Major Push for Cantonese Heritage Overseas! Australian Cantonese Cultural Festival Concludes Successfully
海外粵語傳承大手筆！澳洲粵語文化節圓滿
In June, Sydney basked in the gentle warmth of its early winter sun. On June 20, 2026, the halls of Bayside High School in the city’s southern district resonated with familiar hometown melodies and the vibrant beats of gongs and drums. With strong backing from various sectors, the Chinese Culture School built upon the momentum of last year’s inaugural success to seamlessly host the Second Annual Australian Cantonese Cultural Festival. Coinciding with the school’s 15th anniversary, the event was jointly held with the finale of the Global Overseas Chinese School Students & Scholars Singing Competition. Flying the flag of “Preservation, Promotion, and Inheritance,” it united the Cantonese cultural community scattered across the Southern Hemisphere.
The occasion drew a distinguished crowd, marking a grand and dignified affair. Federal Members of Parliament Zhi Soon and Ash Ambihaipahar, along with Director-General Wu Cheng-Wei of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, and Director Jiang Jiahui of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office’s Sydney Cultural Center, were among the esteemed guests attending to offer their congratulations. MP Zhi Soon, who is of Chinese heritage, lauded Principal Lin Song for his years of dedicated work in promoting both Mandarin and Cantonese education with remarkable vitality. Meanwhile, MP Ash Ambihaipahar, whose background is Sri Lankan and Papua New Guinean, moved the audience by highlighting the universal importance of mother-tongue preservation through her own experiences.
While the festival centered on Cantonese, it radiated inclusivity toward multiculturalism. Principal Lin personally led students in performing the Lu Kai tribe’s “Warrior Dance” and the Tibetan dance “Gesang La.” The former, featuring interlocked hands, symbolized unity, while the latter conveyed the pursuit of happiness. Following the performance, students greeted the guests with a crisp, synchronized chant: “Hearts filled with love, beloved by all!”—their clear voices showcasing the fruitful outcomes of the language education provided.
Director-General Wu Cheng-Wei delivered a witty address in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, commending the school’s steadfast tradition of teaching Traditional Chinese characters. Veteran media personality Mr. Li Runhui offered impromptu coaching on recitation techniques. Ms. Deng Xiaoying, former Mayor of Kogarah and a long-time supporter of the school, announced on the spot that she would enroll her grandson, underscoring the institution’s unmatched reputation.
The event culminated in a gala performance and awards ceremony for the singing competition. The stage featured classic Cantonese pieces like “Looking Back Together” (Ci Ci Mong Gwo Heui) and “Thoughts Day and Night” (Zau Ye Si Seong), alongside the moving Mandarin song “The Sun Has Set” (Tai Yang Luo Shan Le). After intense competition, Liu Zhixin clinched the high school championship with her recitation of Wang Guozhen’s renowned poem “Gratitude.” Meanwhile, Zhong Yiqian, Chen Yanjun, Cai Zhini, and others topped their respective categories in recitation and singing.
Fifteen years of weathering challenges have seen the Chinese Culture School not only safeguard the Lingnan dialect but also help outstanding Chinese culture take root abroad. As Principal Lin emphasized, this endeavor transcends language—it represents the continuation of a spirit defined by “cherishing kindness, speaking kindly, and doing good deeds.” As night fell, the Second Australian Cantonese Cultural Festival drew to a perfect close amidst laughter and joy. Yet, the refreshing new breeze of Cantonese melody will continue to echo through Sydney’s winter days.
六月嘅雪梨，正值暖冬煦陽。2026年6月20號，位於南區嘅Bayside高中入面，鄉音繚繞、鑼鼓喧天。中華文化學校喺各界力撐之下，承接去年首屆盛會嘅餘威，順利搞掂第二屆《澳洲粵語文化節》。適逢學校創校十五週年，活動更加同《全球僑校學生暨僑生歌唱大賽》匯演夾埋一齊，以「保育、推廣、傳承」做旗幟，凝聚起散落喺南半球嘅粵語文化圈。
當日可謂冠蓋雲集，場面好隆重。澳洲聯邦國會議員孫先志（Zhi Soon）、Ash Ambihaipahar，雪梨台北經濟文化辦事處吳正偉處長、雪梨文教中心江佳慧主任等多位貴賓親臨現場祝賀。有華裔血統嘅孫先志議員大讚林松校長多年嚟深耕華語同粵語教育，做得有聲有色；而來自斯里蘭卡同巴布亞新畿內亞背景嘅Ash議員，就用自身經歷強調咗母語傳承嘅全球性意義，真係好感動。
文化節雖然主打粵語，但處處展現多元文化嘅包容。林松校長親自帶領學子獻上魯凱族《勇士舞》同藏舞《格桑拉》。前者用交叉牽手共舞象徵團結，後者寓意追求幸福美好。表演完之後，學生們用整齊劃一嘅口號迎接嘉賓：「心中有愛，人見人愛！」把聲清脆，盡顯語言教育嘅豐碩成果。
吳正偉處長用英文、華語、粵語三語幽默致詞，肯定學校堅持正體字教學嘅傳統；資深傳媒人李潤輝先生就即場傳授朗誦技巧；長期撐該校嘅Kogarah前市長鄧小穎女士，更加當場話要將個孫送入學校讀書，可見口碑真係冇得頂。
活動壓軸係粵語同華語歌唱比賽嘅匯報演出同頒獎。舞台上，既有經典粵曲《齊齊望過去》、《晝夜思想》，亦有動人嘅華語歌《太陽落山了》。經過激烈角逐，劉祉心憑住朗誦汪國真名篇《感謝》奪得中學生組冠軍；鍾以謙、陳彥均、蔡芷妮等同學就分別喺朗誦同歌唱項目封王。
十五年櫛風沐雨，中華文化學校唔單止守護咗嶺南鄉音，更加令中華優秀文化喺異國他鄉落地生根。正如林松校長所講，呢唔單止係語言嘅傳承，更係「存好心、說好話、做好事」精神嘅延續。隨住夜幕低垂，第二屆澳洲粵語文化節喺歡聲笑語中完美落幕，但呢股粵韻新風，將會繼續喺雪梨嘅冬日裡迴盪
