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The Mandarin Speaking Community in Australia Arrival Chinese migration to Australia can be traced to the early days of settlement. During the gold rush of the 19th Century, there was a huge influx of Chinese people into Australia. Settlement It wasn't until the 1980s that the Mandarin-speaking community began to grow rapidly and became more established. According to a census conducted in 1996, the Mandarin community has emerged as the ninth-largest language group in Australia. The total population of Mandarin speakers in Australia is estimated at more than 92,000 - almost one third of all Chinese-language speakers in the country. Sydney and Melbourne are home to most of the country's Mandarin-speaking migrants and the communities are very diverse. Migrants have come from all parts of the world, particularly South East and North Asia. A large number are from mainland China as well as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and East Timor. It is language which continues to be retained generation after generation. Community Contacts Organisations serving Australia's Mandarin-speaking community: Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia PO Box 344 Curtin, ACT 2605 Phone:02 6282 5755 Fax: 02 6282 5734 Victoria Federation of Chinese Associations in Victoria Phone (03) 9639 2294 Fax (03) 9639 2838 Chinese Association of Victoria 320 Ewantirna Road,Wantirna, Vic 3152 Phone (03) 9800 3388 Fax (03) 9800 3588 Australia Shanghai Chamber of Commerce 1 Anthony Ave, Doncaster, Vic 3108 Phone (03) 9850 9063 Fax (03) 9850 4178 Chinese Xinjiang Association of Australia 9 Beswicke Court, Dandenong, Vic 3175 Phone (03) 9791 6883 Fax (03) 9791 6883 Indo-China Ethnic Chinese Association of Victoria G/F Ross House, 247-251 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000 Phone (03) 9650 9061 Fax (03) 9650 3689 Cambodian Chinese Friendship Association of Victoria 45-58 Buckingham Ave, Springvale, Vic 3171 Phone (03) 9540 3989 Fax (03) 9540 3989 Timorese Middle & Aged Association P O Box 1037, North Richmond, Vic 3121 Phone (03) 9429 5003 or (03) 9428 9086 New South Wales Australian Chinese Community Association 2 Mary St. Surry Hills 2010 Chinese Youth League 10 Dixon St. Haymarket 2000 Australian Elderly Chinese 17-19 Brady St. Croydon 2132 Chinese Australian Service Society 44 Sixth Ave. Campsie 2194 Australian Chinese Descendants' Mutual Association 44 Arthur St. Cabramatta 2166 SZE YUP Association of Australia PO Box 444 Haymarket 2000 Chin Hwa University Alumni 5 Bishopgate St. Newtown 2042 Indochina Chinese Association 10/124-128 Railway Pde. Canley Vale 2166 Chinese Writers' Association 21 Kauri St. Cabramatta 2166 Campsie Cultural Centre 20-22 Anglo Road Campsie 2194 Western Australia The Chung Wah Association 128 James St., Northbridge WA 6000 Tasmania Chinese Community Association 7 Burrett Place North Hobart 7001 South Australia Chinese Welfare Service 122 Gouger St SA 5000 Special Events Calendar SBS Radio's Mandarin Language Program presents special coverage of the following events throughout the year. January/February Chinese New Year. Celebrations last for about two weeks. The Lantern Festival marks the end of the festival. June Dragon Boat Festival. The date changes every year. The races are in memory of the poet, Qu Yuan. The tradition is to eat a special kind of sticky rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves. The treats are called Zong Zi. August/September Autumn Moon Festival. Regarded as a time to think about ancestors. Families get together and eat sweet moon cakes. October 1 National Day of the People's Republic of China. October 10 National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Recommended Websites www.bbc.co.uk/mandarin www.cctv.com.cn www.rthk.org.hk www.rfa.org/mandarin/index.cgi www.ibb.gov/chinese/index.html |
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