On Saturday 28 February 2026, the Goulburn Valley Chinese Association (GVCA) proudly presented the Lunar New Year Celebration 2026 – Welcoming the Year of the Horse at Riverlinks Eastbank in Shepparton.
2026 年 2 月 28 日，高宾华人会（Goulburn Valley Chinese Association，GVCA）在谢珀顿 Riverlinks Eastbank 成功举办了 2026 农历新年庆典——喜迎马年 · 马到成功。
Designed as a free, family-friendly event, the celebration welcomed people from all cultural backgrounds across Greater Shepparton and the broader Goulburn Valley to come together through music, performance, cultural traditions and shared community experiences.
Throughout the afternoon, the venue was filled with warmth and energy — from the excitement of the Lion Dance, to live performances and DJs, to cultural workshops where children and families explored calligraphy, traditional knotting and festive activities together.
We were also deeply encouraged by feedback from visiting performers, including a Pipa artist Zoey Xu from Melbourne who shared that the event felt “warm, community-focused and genuinely people-centred.”
In an era where many large-scale events are increasingly commercialised, GVCA is proud to create celebrations that prioritise connection, participation and community belonging.
A diverse stage program of cultural and contemporary performances
Lion Dance as a key festive highlight
Hands-on cultural workshops, including calligraphy and traditional knotting
Community service and information stalls
Family-friendly festival activities encouraging participation across all ages
本次庆典活动内容包括：
融合传统与现代的舞台演出节目
作为节庆亮点的舞狮表演
文化体验工作坊（书法、中国结等）
社区服务与信息摊位
适合不同年龄段参与的亲子友好互动活动
Attendance and reach｜参与规模
The Lunar New Year Celebration 2026 was attended by over 1,000 people throughout the afternoon, reflecting strong community interest and engagement from across Greater Shepparton and the wider Goulburn Valley region.
The strong turnout highlighted the importance of inclusive, community-led cultural celebrations in regional Victoria, and reaffirmed the role of GVCA in creating spaces that bring people together across cultures.
“In Chinese culture, the Horse symbolises resilience — quietly moving forward, step by step, with strength and determination. This is exactly how our Chinese community in the Goulburn Valley has grown, through time, effort and perseverance.”
“马，在中华文化中象征着坚韧与前行。它不张扬，却始终向前。这也正像我们在 Goulburn Valley 的华人社区一样，一步一步，用时间和坚持，慢慢走到今天。”
— Jimmy Li, President, Goulburn Valley Chinese Association 李沛｜高宾华人会 会长
During the opening of the Lunar New Year Celebration 2026 – Welcoming the Year of the Horse, GVCA President Jimmy Li delivered a bilingual address reflecting on the meaning of the Year of the Horse and the journey of the Chinese community in the Goulburn Valley.
在活动开幕仪式上，高宾华人会会长 李沛（Jimmy Li） 发表了中英文致辞，分享了马年象征的坚韧精神，并回顾了华人社区在 Goulburn Valley 扎根与成长的历程。
For those interested in reading the full address, the complete speech is available below.
The Goulburn Valley Chinese Association sincerely thanks the government representatives who attended and supported the Lunar New Year Celebration 2026 – Welcoming the Year of the Horse. Their presence demonstrated strong support for multicultural, community-led celebrations in Greater Shepparton and regional Victoria.
Kim O’Keeffe MP, Member for Shepparton and Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Multicultural Affairs
Greater Shepparton City Council 大谢珀顿市议会
Shane Sali, Mayor
Anthony Brophy, Councillor
Rod Schubert, Councillor
Fern Summer, Councillor
Their engagement throughout the celebration reinforced the importance of inclusive, community-focused cultural events in strengthening social connection, belonging and mutual understanding across our region.
The Year of the Horse symbolises resilience, steady effort and moving forward together. GVCA looks forward to continuing to build connection, belonging and cultural exchange across our region.
