Bibi’s Opening Speech at LNY Event

By Dr Bibiana Chan

Welcome to the Community Flower Studio’s Inaugural Lunar New Year Family Fun Fair!

Acknowledgement

I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather today, the Cammeraygal people of the Eora Nation, and pay my respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging.

Empowered us to bring our vision to life

First, my heartfelt thanks to Multicultural NSW for awarding us the ‘Stronger Together Festival Grant,’ which has empowered us to bring our vision to life.  A special acknowledgment goes to Jackjack, Co-Chair of CFS’s Youth Action Group, for inspiring this event and showcasing her creativity through a dazzling LED-lit Hula Hoop performance and a mobile balloon-twisting workshop.

Programs work best when they grow from the ground up

At the Community Flower Studio, our goal is simple: to empower young people to help themselves. We believe that programs work best when they grow from the ground up, with ideas shaped by the people the programs are meant to serve. Our ‘Creative Workshops by Young People for Young People’ and this family fun fair are powerful examples of how we turn youth-led ideas into reality.

Creativity and Mindfulness

We also embrace the idea that creativity and mindfulness are essential for mental health. Professor Christina Davis of the University of Western Australia once said, “You don’t have to be good at art for art to be good for you!” That’s the spirit we celebrate today.

No Right or Wrong in Creative Arts

Through activities like Chinese calligraphy, we encourage everyone to focus on the present moment. If you’ve never held a Chinese brush before, here’s your chance to explore and play. At CFS, there’s no right or wrong in creative arts. It’s about enjoying the journey. The Fei-Chun (Chinese calligraphy blessings) that you take home is simply a bonus!

Our belief in empowerment extends to our broader mission.

Among the raffle prizes today are two bottles of blueberry non-alcoholic drinks from OzHarvest. This charity rescues food waste and turns imperfect blueberries into drinks, using the proceeds to fund jobs for homeless individuals.

Now imagine this story in the context of the Community Flower Studio.

Replace OzHarvest with CFS, blueberries with local roses, and homeless individuals with youth facing mental health challenges. This is the essence of a social enterprise—a model that puts people and the planet before profit, empowering individuals to lead meaningful lives.

Helping to build sustainable solutions to social challenges

The 2025 Local Heros of the Year are 2 Founders of a Social Enterprise – Stepping Stones Café in Canberra.  I encourage you to seek out other social enterprises.  support their causes, volunteer with them, and spread the word. By doing so, you are helping to build sustainable solutions to social challenges and empowering communities from within.

Finally, a big thank you to the LNY Event working group, volunteers, sponsors, and donors who have made today possible. A special mention goes to my nearly 90-year-old mother, who generously sponsored the printing of the beautiful show bags which are now filled with goodies and mental health flyers which covered a very wide age range – from little kids to retirees. These resources may offer a small but meaningful way to face life’s challenges. You don’t have to read them all at once—think of them as tools in your well-being toolbox. They may come in handy one day. Keep the ones you find useful, and if there are any you don’t need, consider leaving them in a street library to share with others. You never know—you might save a life! At the Community Flower Studio, we are building a multicultural community where people support one another through thick and thin. We are “Stronger Together.” Let’s celebrate the Year of the Snake! Thank you!