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Next Week @TC
19/04/2024
Term 1 Newsletter
Welcome back Term 2 Week 1
Term 2 Wek 2
Acting Principal for the Beginning of Term 2
Aaron Mackinnon's Appointment to Principal of Preshil
Snow Camp 2024
Respectful Community Behaviour
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
Please find link to the Term 1 Newsletter, a fabulous display of all that happens at TC! Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable break, see you in Term 2!
WELCOME BACK! TERM 2 WEEK 1
We hope all our community enjoyed a wonderful Term 1 break - Melbourne's most beautiful time of the year - and are ready for a full and rich term of learning ahead here @ TC!
Students and staff all settled straight back into their learning this week, which is to be expected, with some additional highlights occurring to kick off the term, such as the Grad Camp, various interschool sports and our Peer Support program for Entry's.
TERM 2 WEEK 2
Next week, we have the following events to look forward to:
ANAZC Day Public Holiday, Thursday 25th April
Adventure Hub Outdoor Ed Camp
Various ESDP 3x3 Tournaments
VEX Robotics World Championships in Texas, USA - We are sending a group of seven students to represent TC at this world event!
ACTING PRINCIPAL FOR THE BEGINNING OF TERM 2
Please note that Peter Ellis will be overseas on long service leave for the first three weeks of term 2. Adam Cribbes, our current Assistant Principal - Director of Learning, will be carrying out the role of Acting Principal for these three weeks.
AARON MACKINNON’S APPOINTMENT TO PRINCIPAL OF PRESHIL
We would like to congratulate Aaron on being appointed to the role of Principal at Preshil, commencing from May 13th this term. This is a great recognition of Aaron's leadership capabilities and experience as a progressive educational leader and follows an extensive international recruitment process carried out by Preshil.
Congratulations again, Aaron!
SNOW CAMP
Another year, another SNOW camp!
This year, we have one (1) camp visiting Mt Buller (located on Taungurung land - First Nations people of the rivers and mountains).
Camp details as follows:
Dates:
Monday July 29th - Friday August 2nd (Term 3 - Week 3)
Cost:
approximately $1400 - $1600
So you are aware, this camp will be capped, meaning spots are limited. This expression of interest (EOI) does not guarantee you a place on this camp. EOI link here - https://forms.office.com/r/QiFB9mWiLE (note: you must use your TC log-in to complete form)
Once EOI's have been submitted, a selection process will occur. To be clear, students who attended this camp in the past two (2) years (2022 + 2023) will have the lowest priority on the list. Selected attendees must submit a $600 deposit to secure their spot.
Expressions of interest close by TUESDAY APRIL 30TH (Week 3).
Message me directly on Teams if you have any questions.
Regards,
Tony Di Falco
RESPECTFUL COMMUNITY BEHAVIOUR
Our goal at TC is to always work respectively and in collaboration with parents, carers, advocates and other adult members of the school community.
We kindly ask that, in return, members of the TC community engage respectfully with all TC staff.
TC’s Community of Conduct states the parents and community members will:
Model positive behaviour to our child.
Ensure our child attends school on time, every day the school is open for instruction.
Take an interest in our child’s school and learning.
Work with the school to achieve the best outcomes for our child.
Unreasonable behaviours
Behaviours that are considered inappropriate on and adjacent to school grounds or in relation to school business and that do not uphold the principles of this Statement of Values include when a person:
is rude, aggressive or harasses others
sends rude, confronting or threatening letters, emails or text messages
is manipulative or threatening
speaks in an aggressive tone, either in person or over the telephone
makes sexist, racist or derogatory comments
inappropriately uses social media as a forum to raise concerns/make complaints against the school
is physically intimidating, e.g. standing very close.
These behaviours are never okay and can make staff and students feel unsafe. Unacceptable behaviour will be taken very seriously and addressed by our Principal Team. This may include calling the police if required or issuing you a School Community Safety Order.
To learn more about how you can build positive relationships with TC staff, please check out:
TC Statement of Values - https://tc.vic.edu.au/policies
Department of Education Policies:
https://www.vic.gov.au/respectful-behaviours-within-school-community-policy
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/respectful-workplaces/overview
TC NEWS
Journalist Rory, Ruby and Mietta write TC NEWS, articles that give our community an insight to life at TC 📰
Discovering the Fascinating World of the Past: Join Templestowe College's History Club Today!
History Club is a fantastic place for those who have a passion for history and want to learn more about the significant events that have shaped our world today. The club is open to all students who are interested in exploring history in a fun and interactive way.
Every Tuesday, a group of eager students meets in C-wing to connect, chat, and learn about historical events, and to spread their enthusiasm and knowledge of a variety of subjects. History club is led by passionate educators who are experts in their fields and are always eager to share their knowledge with us!
In each session, we learn about a particular subject, whether it be blood, medicine, or any other topic we're interested in! If you're not into those sorts of topics, we also encourage club members to share their ideas and suggestions for future meetings!
"I like history club because I always learn something I never knew." Says Dara Cucos. "We do crosswords and word searches that relate to the topic we are learning about."
History Club offers an immersive exploration of the world's most captivating historical events and civilizations. From the rise and fall of mighty empires to the struggles and triumphs of ordinary people, each meeting promises to ignite your passion for the past. The club's thought-provoking discussions and engaging presentations provide members with an opportunity to broaden their understanding of the world and develop a deeper appreciation for its complexities.
But wait, there's more! As if the thrill of uncovering history's greatest mysteries wasn't enticing enough, the History Club offers a delightful bonus: free snacks during each meeting. It's the perfect way to fuel your mind.
"History club has to be my favourite club because I'm exposed to the history of many interesting topics like the history of blood, weapons, diseases, assassinations, and probably my favourite so far: barbie." Explains Zara Malik. "Of course, I can't leave out the snacks and fun quizzes! Can't wait for next week!"
If you are passionate about history and want to learn more about the significant events that shaped our world today, History Club is the perfect place for you. It's an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, broaden your understanding of the world, and have fun while doing it. Join the History Club today and start your journey towards discovering the fascinating world of the past!
By Mietta Palmer
TC Journalists
Previous TCNEWS Articles
Turtles all the way down!
2024 Turtle camp
On Monday morning, a group of adventurous naturalists set off for the week to save and release turtles on TC’s annual Turtle Camp!
After a 3 1/2 hour bus ride, we arrived at our destination: Cohuna, a small country town with a population of only 2,415 people (2016), situated on the bank of the Murray river. We unpacked the bus and set up our tents on the waters edge at the local caravan park. The late afternoon consisted of water fights and card games, and a scrumptious pesto pasta for dinner. Afterwards, a night walk commenced at nightfall. Some things we spotted were; Orb weaver spiders, possums, bats and a family of kookaburras. We also explored the Rickety jetty, lucky that no one fell in!
The next day, we woke up early to the call of peacocks, cockatoos, and a beautiful sunrise. We got ready and quickly scrambled into the bus, ready for a day full of activities.
Our first stop was Clydevale Holstein dairy farm, where the cows are milked by a machine/robot whenever they want. We learnt how the new mechanics work and the process of milking, as well as being able to visit the baby calves, which were absolutely adorable!
Throughout the week, we learnt about the local species of freshwater turtles, which include the Broadshell turtle, eastern long neck and the Murray short neck.
On Tuesday, we were very lucky to take part in a turtle survey research project. We set up river traps in the afternoon, and the next day we brought them up onto the bank to see what we caught 43 adult turtles in total, as well as the odd carp or two! We were able to observe the scientists measure and weigh them, and once they were finished, we got to release them back into their watery home. A lot of us grew very fond of two of the Murray short necks, which we named Oddle and Poddle. These turtles had small little grooves on the edge of their shell, so they were identifiable by other scientists. Before releasing them, we had to re-drill the grooves into a spot where they don’t have any nerves, and then they were good to go. After we packed up everything, the aboriginal people we were working with held a smoking ceremony which we participated in and connected to country.
That night, we had a bonfire along the river, where we roasted marshmallows and made s’mores. A night sky photographer taught us how to take photos of the stars with our phones which was really cool as well! At the bonfire we met four scientists from America who were studying Australian river turtles and on Thursday we got to see them collect a swab sample from a female broadshella cloaca.
For the whole week we searched and scavenged for turtle nests, new and old. We visited people’s farms and properties, looking out for baby turtles and their nests, and at last, we found some. On the edge of a dry paddock, overlooking the water, we found an old nest that had been protected by Turtles Australia a few years ago. We removed the wire and dug up 17 baby turtles wriggling beneath the soil. One of them were still connected to their egg yolk, and there were four unhatched eggs so we reburied them afterwards.
One by one, we released the baby turtles into the river and sent them on their way.
Graham was the man from Turtles Australia who guided us throughout the week. He taught us how to spot a nest and how to hold turtles properly. He was so kind and patient even though more than half of the nests we ended up finding were just ant nests! He was so enthusiastic about his job and educating all of us it was a truly fun experience. He showed us how to feel the eggs in female turtles.
Over the course of the week, we released a total of 36 baby broad-shell turtles. It was an amazing experience to see new lives entering the world and helping to support Turtles Australia. It was truly a unique experience that we will forever cherish. 🐢🌏
By Ruby Egan-Douglas and Mietta Palmer
TC Journalists
2024 School Production - Matilda!
Our beloved extraordinary bookworm is coming to the stage here at TC. Matilda the Musical, based on the book by Roald Dahl, is a story of a little girl who dares to take a stand and change her own destiny, because even if you’re little you can do a lot. Staff director Hayden Smith says “it’s a super fun musical. The energy is high, and the songs are fun.”
There have only been two rehearsals so far, but excitement is already buzzing in the air. Jasmine Fuga, who plays Miss Honey, says “I love theatre, I think it’s a great opportunity to connect with people and make new friends, and it’s just so much fun” and she’s most looking forward to “just doing the show” because “when it all comes together, it’s really exciting.” Hannah Radford, who plays Mrs Phelps, says “the cast and crew at TC are so lovely and I’m really excited to work with them…The passion and love for the show is everywhere.” Will Genat, who plays Miss Trunchbull, says “it’s always the villains and the angry characters that are so fun to play…there’s so much you can infuse within their performance”, and he’s most looking forward to performing the song The Smell of Rebellion, which he says is “this jazzy, absolute banger” and during that song there’s a part where “Miss Trunchbull’s gonna be lifted up…above everyone, and people are gonna…spin her around and carry her around the stage.”
There’s lots of reasons the Matilda cast wanted to get involved. Em Cormack, who plays Matilda, says “I love musicals…I’m an avid theatre kid” and “I have been in every school production that I have been able to” as well as “choir, dance classes, acting - anything to get closer to theatre.” Emily Dean, who also plays Miss Trunchbull, says this performance is a “bit of a second chance” as she “did Matilda in primary school and was Miss Trunchbull, but never actually got to perform it because of COVID.” Quinn Scotti, who plays Mr Wormwood, says “it's my last year at the school” and “I thought that being involved in the school production would be a great way to create some memories.” Luca Hughes, who also plays Mrs Phelps, says “I was in The Addams Family Musical last year, and it was by far the best production I've ever been in…so I immediately jumped at the opportunity to audition for Matilda the Musical.”
This year, there are two people playing some of the lead roles, and they’ll each get two nights to have the spotlight. The main characters in Matilda are Matilda Wormwood herself who loves books and is very intelligent, the headmistress Agatha Trunchbull who Will describes as “this matriarchal figure. She is like a battle axe. She doesn’t give up…She’s angry, she’s spiteful, she hates children”, Matilda’s teacher Miss Honey who Jasmine describes as “a fragile woman…she’s had a lot happen in her past, but she’s very kind and it’s sort of contrast to the principal, Trunchbull”, Matilda’s parents Mr and Mrs Wormwood, Bruce Bogtrotter, The Escapologist, The Acrobat, Mrs Phelps the librarian who Luca describes as Matilda’s “outlet for her stories and her escape from her own unfair world”, Rudolpho, Lavender, and Matilda’s brother Michael.
Some of the cast have even found similarities between themselves and the character they’re playing. Luca says “I love books and stories” just like Mrs Phelps. Miss Honey is a teacher and Jasmine says “I’m actually studying this year at TAFE; my cert III in Early Childhood Education.” Even Emily found some similarities between herself and Miss Trunchbull, saying “around my younger siblings, definitely get my inner Trunchbull out sometimes.”
Performing isn’t the only part our students have in this production. There are student directors too, and Hayden says “we’re keen to have our student directors running the show as much as possible.” Miles Leahy Baulch is one of these student directors whose role is to “support the production by helping people with their lines, and their characters, and movement on the stage, and managing the show in general.” He says directing is “something that I haven't really done before, apart from short bursts in classes, so it was something different that I could…discover new things with.” Will was a student director last year and this year again, and he says “I wanted to come back and…make it even better than last year.”
Feel like you’re missing out on the fun? It’s not too late to get involved. According to Hayden, a call for backstage crew will be put on Teams early next term, “so keep an eye out for it.”
The cast and crew would like to say a big “come see Matilda!” with Will adding “we’ll sell out every single night.” Save the date, August 13th-16th.
By Rory Opie
TC Journalist
International Women's Day at TC
March 8th is a day dedicated to celebrating women honouring their achievements and advocating for women’s rights. The day focuses on issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women. It's celebrated with lots of purple and green. Purple symbolises justice and dignity, combined with green which signifies hope, the two represent the feminist movement.
This year the theme for 2024's International Women's Day was, "Inspire Inclusion” to take action and break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected. Protests, charity runs, art exhibitions and online activity across social media are just some of the ways this remarkable day is celebrated.
This campaign started in 1910, when a woman named Clara Zetkin proposed that every year, in every country there should be a celebration on the same day, A Women's Day, to press for their rights & demands. A conference was held with over 100 women from 17 countries they all welcomed Zetkin's proposition with unanimous approval and International Women's Day was the outcome. Then in 1928, Australia held its first International Women’s Day celebration in Sydney women from all around gathered and protested and campaigned for equal pay for equal work and paid leave.
How did TC celebrate this historical day? Michelle Parker organized a free coffee event for all female staff members. Some Connect classes participated in activities such as writing gratitude letters to influential women and were encouraged to reflect on the value these women have in their lives.
Ryan Griffith, the teacher in charge of Connect, mentioned that
"Connect is about building relationships, fostering a sense of belonging at school, as well as learning about social justice and the world from the perspective of being global citizens. As important world events and celebration days roll around, we often spend some time in Connect exploring the significance of these days. International Women's Day (IWD) is an important day on our calendar for so many reasons. In Connect this year, groups were encouraged to learn about the origins and significance of IWD through videos and discussion as well as activities such as gratitude letter writing where students wrote letters to women in their life. Connect is a space where we can revisit these topics throughout the year and provide a space where everyone can have a voice."
It was great to see the TC communities participate in IWD activities and show commitment towards creating a more inclusive and equitable world.
The occasion not only enabled us to observe the achievements of women but also to discuss crucial issues that often go unnoticed during regular classes.
By Ruby Egan-Douglas
TC Journalist
TC Touring Critters - The 2024 Animals Expo!
On Monday afternoon, TC Animals hosted the 2024 Animals Expo along with the grand opening of their new enclosure, the Aviary for Life! The aviary is a native aviary for our king parrots and kakarikis, as well as our very new red-tale black cockatoos which we only got yesterday! The goal of the expo was to share the program's achievements and showcase the animals that we are very lucky to care for.
During the event, a sausage sizzle was set up to provide food and refreshing drinks to the attendees, which was a great way to get the occasion going! To top it off, Backyard Permaculture used the pizza oven to serve scrumptious scones with jam and cream to the public.
Students gave tours to the visitors, showcasing the diverse range of animals in the program, including fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. As an Aviary class leader, I was posted outside 'Aviary for Life', answering questions from the public and providing some information to guests. I enjoyed helping to contribute to the event, and seeing how happy our King parrotts and Kakarikis are in their new enclosure!
Shoutout to all the students who contributed to the Mural on the New Aviary, and to Violet for designing and directing it - It's beautiful!
The highlight of the day was the welcome to country performance by Delanah and the speeches given by the two Aviary headkeepers, Sofie and Kiara, who discussed the process of creating the Aviary and how it is today. At 5:00, everyone gathered around the Aviary for Life to listen to the speeches and learn more about the amazing work they do!
We asked a group of students in the animal program about their experience -
1) How long have you been in the animals program?
Delanah: I have been in the Animals program since 2021.
Kiara: This is my 5th year in the Animals program
Naomi: I have been in the animals program for 6 years now, I started when I was an entry.
2) What role did you have at the expo on Monday?
Naomi: The role I had was the indoor aviary, where I was talking about some of the birds that we can breed at school and how we hand rear them, but also I got to show my family around and some family friends who had never seen the school before.
Imogen: I was a tour guide, touring guests around to all our animals on display and through permaculture explaining both the programs and answering questions along the way.
Dominic: I worked as an 'Expert' on Skinks and showed off some of the Blue-Tongues, namely Apollo and Big Mumma, to the guests and visitors.
3) What inspired you to become a student leader?
Imogen: I became a Headkeeper of Rabbits because I enjoy sharing my passion and interest of our rabbits with my peers and it is especially rewarding when they discover that passion too!
Dominic: I'm a leader for Skinks in my class and I wanted to become a leader because I really enjoyed working in Skinks and I'd like to help others learn about them.
Lulu: I am the rabbit and guinea pig leader in my FAF class, and I am the Guinea Pig Headkeeper for 2024. I was inspired to become a rabbit and guinea pig leader because I really like the animals, and when I started FAF, Kate was my teacher, and she helped me become a leader (and Headkeeper).
4) Can you tell us about your favourite animal in the program, who they are and why?
Delanah: I have always loved the rats in the program as I have some at home as well. I really love the little frogs because they have such funny personalities that not everyone gets to see
Imogen: It would have to be B1, our Eastern Blue Tongue. He was one of the first skinks I ever held, and whenever I handle him, he immediately falls asleep in my arms, it’s really special to know that an animal feels that safe and comfortable with you.
Naomi: My favourite animal in the animal program are probably the Sugar gilders Wallah and Mimi and the Guinea Pigs Ginny, Baloo, Pippin and Daisy. They are my favourite because the sugar gliders are so cute and soft to the touch and the guinea pigs because I have seen Pippin and Daisy and Baloo from little babies to now.
5) In your opinion, what is the most interesting thing you have learned about animals during your time in this program?
Imogen: The most valuable thing I’ve learned in the animals program is how to understand an animal. Animals are completely dependent on you for everything in their lives and you have to learn how you can best help that animal to give them the best life possible. Learning to be more empathetic, patient and understanding helps you to best care and bond with animals on another level.
Dominic: I think the most interesting thing I've learnt through TC Animals is either that a snake can completely shed in less than a day, or that frog bites don't hurt because they have no teeth.
6) How do you engage new students and encourage them to become more involved?
Delanah: When I was a class leader I would always let the passionate students step up in leadership in the class and help them find out about meetings and opportunities coming up.
Imogen: The best way to encourage and engage with new students is to find a common interest and build off of that, it’s quite simple that if you love what you are learning you will be better at it!
Dominic: I try and engage new students by demonstrating how to do the different jobs in Skinks, such as feeding or weighing the animals, and encouraging them to try and learn how to do the jobs themselves and learn more about the animals that they are caring for.
Lulu: I try to befriend them and teach them all about the different animals, and sometimes tell them interesting stories about them.
7) What are your plans for the future regarding working with animals?
Delanah: I plan on always having animals in my life. My goal career is actually child psychology with animal assistance so that others can experience the benefits animals can have on your mental health.
Imogen: Animals are always going to play a role in my life, and I would love to experience volunteering or working with animals in a zoo.
Kiara: I’d really like to work with wild animals in some sort of conservation or rescue job.
Lulu: I would love to be an animals teacher one day, although I know it’s a rare job because most schools don’t have heaps of animals like this one.
8) What animal classes have you taken/or are taking, and what's your favourite?
Imogen: I have taken Reptiles and FAF but FAF is my favourite because we get to work in different environments with our animals.
Naomi: I have taken all for the animal class apart from AIS, My favourite class has been fur and feathers but I have also enjoyed reptiles.
Dominic: I take reptiles, and I've never had any other animals classes so Reptile is my favourite by default.
It was a great team effort to pull off the event, and everyone chipped in to make it a success. I can't wait to see what TC Animals has in store for the future! A big thank you to Delanah, Imogen, Kiara, Lulu, Naomi, and Dominic for working with me on this article, thanks for reading!
By Mietta Palmer
TC Journalist
Splish Splash! - TC's 2024 Pool Party
On Tuesday, TC's Pool Party for 2024 took place at Aquarena, and it was nothing short of a spectacular event leaving everyone who attended with fun memories and a sense of excitement for the next one. It was a day filled with laughter, sunshine, and good vibes. The teachers and students put in a tremendous amount of work to make this event spectacular so that everyone would look forward to hanging out with their friends on a hot summer's day, and they did not disappoint!
At the start of the event, TC's grads paraded around the pools, showing off their exotic and creative costumes!
To add to the fun atmosphere, live music was performed by TC's very own bands and performers. Everyone sang along and swayed to the tunes, making the pool party even more enjoyable. It was great to see so many talented individuals showcasing their skills and entertaining the crowd!
One of the many fun stalls was the clothes swap, run by the TC EAG (Environmental Action Group), where they collected pre-loved clothing and accessories from families and students who didn't wear or need them any more. It was a huge hit, and heaps of people found some fantastic new additions to add to their wardrobe. There was also a face painting and henna stall which was also popular too! Another creative activity was portrait painting, where a handful of art students volunteered to draw a portrait of someone else, and a lot of beautiful drawings were created.
The VM students did an incredible job of running their sausage and drinks stall, and everyone appreciated their efforts and enthusiasm!
However, the main attraction of the day was undoubtedly the pool. Everyone got in and enjoyed the cool water, whether it was for Laps for Life, swimming competitions and games, or just a free swim. The slides were open all day, and everyone had a blast trying them out too!
At the end of the day, once all of the competitions had come to an end, the winning community was announced - and it was Gold!
Gold had earned the most points when competing, therefore they were revealed as the winners!
As the day drew to a close, our principal, Peter, was a good sport and agreed to get a bucket of ice water dumped on his head for the VM Laps for Life fundraiser! It was a fun way to end a perfect day spent with friends and community, and of course, to cool off.
Overall, the TC Pool Party was a huge success, and everyone left with smiles on their faces, looking forward to the next one. It was a great reminder of how important it is to come together as a community and have some fun!
By Mietta Palmer and Ruby Egan-Douglas
TC Jounalists
Community Debating
Community debating took place this Thursday. Our communities battled it out in the PAC. The first topic was this is the best time in history to be a teenager the Affirmative Team was GOLD and the opposing negative side was GREEN. Gold came out on top and went into the next round.
After that it was affirmative BLUE and negative RED on the topic: Detentions make high schools a better place to be. Red won this debate and got to take part in the final debate head-to-head with Gold with the subject being AI technology should replace high school teachers.
Red came out on top winning the overall competition.
If you don't know much about debating but want to get involved here is some info, tips & tricks!
What is debating?
Debating is when a formal discussion about a topic is held in a public or legislative meeting. To start with each team is to present strong arguments about why they believe the topic is either true or false. They can do this by supporting their claims with evidence, statistics or just logical reasoning. The teams are also allowed to rebuttal (which means addressing the opponent's statements and countering them).
The judge then evaluates both the arguments from the opposing teams and comes to a conclusion based on criteria such as argumentation, presentation, and responsiveness.
Tips & Tricks
1. Understand your topic. - It's always helpful to know what you're arguing about. It helps gain perspective and anticipate potential counterarguments.
2. Use strong language- You know how in primary school you learnt about how to use big words to persuade people well do that it helps engage the audience! But also don't forget to be Clear and Concise when communicating your points.
3. Stay on topic - to avoid being sidetracked by irrelevant issues.
4. Make sure to engage the audience - Use hand gestures and make eye contact (if that makes you nervous picture everyone in their undies when on stage! Just make sure you don't giggle while giving the speech!)
If you want to get involved with debating there is a club on Tuesday lunchtime in A03 where the TC debaters meet and write speeches for going up against other schools. They learn how to write a good speech and become confident in public speaking! So go check it out!
By Ruby Egan-Douglas
TC Journalist
Luna New Year
This Saturday, the tenth of February, is this year’s Lunar New Year! This day is mainly celebrated in China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Mongolia, Malaysia, and Singapore, to mark the start of the Lunar calendar year. This calendar is based on the Moon’s cycles rather than Earth’s rotations around the Sun like the Gregorian calendar. 2024 is the year of the dragon 🐲.
There are many ways this day can be celebrated, and our own students here at TC have provided us with some insight.
Shirley (Zeshan Li) arrived in Australia from China in January 2023, and has Lunar New Year traditions of putting up decorations, eating dinner with family on New Year’s Eve, distributing red envelopes (Angpow) and other gifts, setting off firecrackers and fireworks, and “stay[ing] up late eat[ing] dumplings”. B Dang arrived in Australia from Vietnam just this January, and has the tradition of buying fireworks and setting them off, and watching a traditional Vietnamese movie called Tao Quan. B added, “we have lots of food, and we also put food on a table next to the door and leave the door open”. Tat, who arrived from Malaysia in January last year, would celebrate by gathering with relatives, playing Mahjong, and eating a big meal while waiting for fireworks. Jonathan, who arrived from China in November last year, described a tradition of big dinners with 15+ dishes, making dumplings, and “as for the kids, they will receive red packets full of money from every relative”. Red is prominent during Lunar New Year celebrations because it symbolises joy and good fortune.
This Lunar New Year, Kayla Lau, who arrived from Singapore a month and a half ago, will be celebrating by eating dinner with family. Danny Tram, who arrived from Vietnam in September 2023, currently lives in a homestay from Taiwan and will be celebrating with them. Sonya (Yuehan Sun), who arrived from China on the 4th of February, will be getting red pockets and visiting relatives.
The day requires some preparation. Niki Cao, who arrived from Vietnam in July last year, said they “prepare on New Year’s Eve [by] cleaning the home, and then gathering with relatives and family”. Sonya prepares by buying different kinds of food and new clothes. Shirley prepares by buying decorations like lanterns, firecrackers, fireworks, and “materials to prepare for the New Year’s dinner”. Hasan, who arrived from China in July last year, said preparation involves “welcom[ing] the New Year with a new look and a positive attitude”.
Lunar New Year can bring lots of good memories, and your fellow students shared some of their favourites. Husayn MA, who arrived from China in July 2023, said “back [in] my hometown, I played [in] the snow and [ate] with all of my relatives.” B’s favourite memory is “fireworks in front of the police officer while he is sleeping.” Kayla said “my favourite part is spending time with family.”
To all those who will be celebrating, I hope you have a wonderful time, and good luck in the year ahead!
By Rory Opie
TC Journalist
TCNEWS -