2014/2015AGM President’s Report (27th October 2015)

Dear members,

  1. A Big welcome to all of you this evening to this year Annual General Meeting of Chinatown Adelaide of SA Inc. (CASA). This is our 10th AGM, I must take this opportunity to thank all members, especially to those founding members who have been with us all these years and not to forget all our past Presidents and Management Committees without whose leadership, we would not be able to be together here today..
  1. My report to you this evening will be short and I will highlight only some significant events that were undertaken
  1. After the present Committee was elected in office in August 2014, we invited His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AO, Governor of SA to be our Patron as soon as His Excellency took office in September 2014 which was readily accepted on the same month.Please note that His Excellency was our Patron from 2008 to 2014 whilst serving as the Lt- Governor of SA.
  1. We celebrated 2014 X’mas with our members and friends at a Cocktail Party held at ACES Bar, Market Plaza on Thursday11th December 2014. It was also during this function that we launched our 2015 Lunar New Year Street Party Program.
  1. On the first Day of Lunar New Year 2015 (Thursday 19th February 2015), our Patron His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AO, Governor of SA gave a Reception at the Government House to acknowledge and recognize those volunteers and supporters who have made tremendous contributions to the Lunar New Year Street Party for the last 12 years.
  1. On Saturday 21st February 2015, from early morning until very late at night, we have the Lunar New Year Street Party in Chinatown for the 12th consecutive year.. This was also the third year we had extended the street party celebrations onto Gouger Street from Moonta Street, and the first time we had a 30-table dinner banquet on Gouger Street, attracting tens of thousands of visitors to the City watching our entertainment programs and, patronizing our food and exhibition stalls. We had a group of wineries from Adelaide Hills joining us for the first time in the Street Party to promote their wines.
  1. In May 2015, Troy Li (one of our committee members) and I joined the Premier of SA and Lord Mayor of Adelaide for the Shandong trip. Our aim was to promote international education & to attract more Chinese students, who are one of the biggest groups of customers to Chinatown, to study in SA and to assist to build sister-city relationship between Qingdao and Adelaide.
  1. On 22nd August 2015, together with Education Adelaide as our partner, we provided the infrastructure and financial support to the International students from China at the three local Universities to organize the Double Seventh (Qixi) Festival at Moonta Street, Chinatown. The event was supported by Adelaide City Council, through the waiving the fees associated with closure of Moonta Street, and sponsored by ANZ Bank, Committee for Adelaide, Property and Consulting Australia and veratis liberte. Other organisations such as the OZ Asia Festival, STEMSEL Adelaide and other local community associations such as the Overseas Chinese Association, Chinese Association, and Chinese Welfare Services had also participated in the Festival.
  1. As President of Chinatown Adelaide of SA Inc., I participate in the Adelaide City Council Market District Reference group which deliberate and shape the future of the Market district in the City of Adelaide. I also attend the Lord Mayor’s Precinct Forum.
  1. As President of Chinatown of SA Inc., I have made a submission on 25th September 2015 to the State Government on Expert Panel on Planning Reform.
  1. After many months of intense lobbying and waiting, the Adelaide City Council had finally started the reconstruction of the Moonta Street Pavers in September 2015.
  1. I would like to put in record my Sincere Thanks and Appreciations to our Patron, His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AO, Governor of SA, each and every committee and every member for the tremendous support given to me while I served as your President. My special thanks must go to my hardworking Secretary Eric Lai and my Treasurer Suki Han. It is a privilege and honour to serve with you all.
  1. I would also like to thank all the volunteers, the Chinese International students and supporters, including sponsors like State Government, Adelaide City Council, BankSA, veratis liberte, Malaysia Airlines, InterContinental Adelaide, Adelaide Festival Centre, Lannister Wines Group, International Student Exchange Services.
  1. I must also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Troy Li for being awarded the top International Student for Community Engagement Sector in the 2015 Governor’s Award for International Students.

George Chin

President

27th October 2015