Riverwood community welcome in the Lunar New Year of the Rooster.

• 2nd February, 2017.
  Riverwood, Canterbury Bankstown, Sydney NSW. Bill Smith PAYCE Head Office 2017-02-10

Riverwood residents, this week came together to welcome in the Lunar New Year, year of the Rooster.

Riverwood residents and the local Chinese community, enjoyed lots of celebratory singing, dancing performances, fireworks and costumes at a special event held at the Riverwood Community Centre.

More than 200 people attended the local festival which also included colourful traditional food and lucky door prizes.

This year's cultural celebrations were organised by the Canterbury Bankstown Harmony Group and the Riverwood Twilight Rouge Chinese Dancing Group and included a special performance by Peking opera singer, John Z Ding.

The annual event was again supported by PAYCE, along with representatives from the Riverwood Community Centre, NSW Housing and Campsie police.

PAYCE celebrates cultural diversity in the community – Brian Boyd.

PAYCE Managing Director, Brian Boyd said the Lunar New Year celebrations were a marvellous way for people to share and enjoy the traditions and cultures of places.

"Riverwood's Lunar Year event is always an excellent way to start the year and is the first of many exciting community events," said Mr Boyd.

"Celebrating the Lunar Year had become a great tradition in Australia and PAYCE is pleased to lend its support and be part of the Riverwood celebrations.

"The Lunar New Year celebration held at the Riverwood Community Centre, was a great success," noted Mr Brian Boyd.

Canterbury Bankstown lunar new year celebrations go off with a bang …

The Riverwood event was one of a number of similar activities held across the Canterbury Bankstown Council that attracted thousands of residents and visitors to celebrate the Year of the Rooster.

A number of Members of Parliament also attended, including Tony Burke, Federal Member for Watson, David Coleman, Federal Member for Banks, Sophie Cotsis, State Member for Canterbury, Jihad Dib, State Member for Lakemba and Mark Coure, State Member for Oatley.

Harmony Group chairperson and MC on the day, Karl Saleh said he was proud to work side by side with the diverse community to implement a positive impact on their quality of life and cultural diversity.

Special occasions are cause for special celebrations – Dominic Sullivan.

PAYCE Director, Dominic Sullivan observed that the Riverwood community comes together on numerous special occasions through the year and deserve our heart felt congratulations for their strong support through out the year and their willingness to participate in a diverse range of celebrations.

"Riverwood's Lunar Year event is a wonderful way to start the year and is the first of many more exciting community events to follow," said Mr Sullivan.

The dancing and singing groups from the Chinese Association put on a great and colourful show. There was a special performance to much acclaim, of Peking Opera singer, John Z Ding, which was followed by lunch and a raffle with PAYCE as the major sponsor.

And what does the year of the Rooster hold ?

In Chinese astrology, each zodiac year is associated with an animal, this year is the year of the Rooster which takes over from last year which was year of the Monkey.

Rooster years include 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, and 2029 and begins on 7th February.

People born in a year of the Rooster are very observant. Hardworking, resourceful, courageous, and talented, Roosters are very confident in themselves, healthy active people who enjoy sports, such as hiking and swimming.

Roosters are very confident and like to brag about their accomplishments and are good around people as they are good motivators. When Roosters get stressed they get moody and can be a little sensitive about their reputations.

Hard working and loyal friends, your will find Roosters successful as sales persons, restaurant owner, public relations officer, farmer, athlete, teacher, journalist, travel writer, soldier, fireman, security guard, and police officer anywhere people and the great outdoors gather together.

Riverwood celebrate throughout the year ...

PAYCE are well known for their commitment to the local community, and are excited about the prospect of lending their support to more events in the future.

Within the past few years, the Riverwood Community Centre have held a number of great events, including a 'picnic in the park' at Rotary Park, the annual Autumn Fair which always has some great prizes to be won. Movie night at the Centre is also popular, and helps to raise awareness for Mental Health Month, residents can expect many more events like these throughout the coming year.