Sydney: Practitioners Celebrate Falun Dafa Day in the City of Fairfield

August 28, 2002 was "Falun Dafa 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance' Day" in Fairfield, West Sydney. This city has a population of 200,000 that come from more than 130 nationalities and speak over 60 different languages. It definitely can be considered a multi-cultural city. On that day, the sun was shining brilliantly, and the sky was blue and clear with white clouds. The celebration site was located in downtown Cabramatta, where many people passed through. The celebration was carried on under a most festive atmosphere.

Exercise demonstration	Chinese traditional costumes display
The audience in high spirits
Mayor of Fairfield gives a speech	Mayor of Fairfield presents the proclamation
The original copy of the proclamation

The practitioners set up a simple stage. A large banner with the words "Celebrating Falun Dafa Day" was hanging at the back of the stage; at the two sides were colourful flags with the words "Falun Dafa" and "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." A bunch of colourful balloons provided more decoration for the stage. Off to the side, one could find information about Falun Dafa, books in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, and display boards depicting the wide spread of Falun Dafa around the world including worldwide proclamations.

From 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the practitioners gave various art performances. Besides an exercise demonstration by young practitioners, a Chinese traditional costumes display and dances, a traditional drum performance troupe also came to add to the fun. The Spanish community presented a series of Spanish dances, and some Western groups also presented their performances. The atmosphere was peaceful and harmonious, and many people came out to see it. One woman after seeing the young practitioners' exercise demonstration said, "They are so young, but they practice the exercises so well. It's amazing. Jiang's regime shouldn't suppress Falun Gong." Six high school girls and a teacher happened to pass by, and they were drawn by the exercise demonstration. They immediately asked for information about the practice site and expressed that they would come to learn during their vacation. A couple said, "Wonderful! Wonderful!" While holding Dafa truth-clarifying materials in hand, they said, "If I were the Chinese leader, I would let everyone in the country support and participate in Falun Dafa, I would never be like Jiang's regime, who are so stupid that they suppress such a good cultivation practice. Falun Dafa is so good, no wonder so many countries around the world support it." Before leaving, the couple also asked about the address of the practice site and contact phone number. A Vietnamese-Chinese Dafa practitioner, whose family members are suffering brutal persecution in China because of practicing Falun Gong, said, "Jiang' regime suppresses the wonderful Falun Dafa. This is truly terrible. The suppression should be stopped immediately."

At 11:30 a.m., the Mayor of Fairfield, city councilman and recipient of outstanding contribution award, Mr. Anwar Khoshaba attended the celebration and cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. Holding a Dafa flyer, the mayor said, "Today I'm so glad to attend the Falun Dafa Day celebration. The Fairfield city government will forever support Falun Dafa. On city hall's calendar, today is an important day. We are a multi-cultural community, and you and I share our own culture, freedom, belief and religion. I support Falun Dafa one hundred percent. I'm glad to attend every Falun Dafa celebration." In the warm applause, Mr. Anwar Khoshaba presented a proclamation to Falun Dafa. Young practitioners presented fresh flowers to the mayor to express their thanks.

A Falun Dafa practitioner also gave a speech. He introduced to the audience the ten-year spread of Falun Dafa around the world, exposed the Jiang criminal regime's brutal persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in the past three years, and clarified the truth about the Hong Kong authorities' false accusations and unfair verdict against 16 Falun Gong practitioners under the coercion of Jiang's regime.

Fairfield Advance reports on the Falun Dafa Day celebration

Major newspapers Fairfield Advance, Championship, and community newspapers including Spanish Newspaper, Vietnam Newspaper, and The Epoch Times came to cover the event. Fairfield Advance gave a very positive report with pictures of the Falun Dafa Day celebration. Several community newspapers and English newspapers sent faxes, asking for that day's news to report in their newspapers.