Children’s Festival Organisation Inc.

2017 - 2018 ANNUAL REPORT

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REVESBY WORKERS’ CLUB AGM29 July 2018

President’s Report

I would like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of this land and pay my respects to the elders past and present. I would also like to acknowledge the presence of the Advisory Committee and the Management Committee today. I warmly welcome you all to our AGM in this beautiful environment, thanks to the generosity of Revesby Workers' Club. It is with much pleasure that I present the President’s report for the year ended 31st May 2018 at our Annual General Meeting here today. It has been another great year of achievements. First of all, our Nineteenth Children’s Festival in the City of Canterbury-Bankstown on the 17th of September last year attracted thousands of participants, thanks to the tireless efforts of all involved. Our fifth Children’s Festival in the City of was also a huge success. This festival was again proclaimed the biggest event in the “Living in Harmony Festival 2018” staged by the City of Sydney. The Children’s Festival in Sydney was something to treasure for the international students working with us and for the tourists arriving in Sydney at the International Passenger Terminal. Hopefully the experience will inspire the students to continue community service wherever they live, whether it’s in Australia or in their home countries. May I congratulate Mai, Mark, and Kana and their respective teams for their magnificent effort in making our various events big successes. The details of our two festivals held during the year 2017-2018 can be found in the reports of our Chairpersons. The Shindig, a celebration of friendship and gratitude to everyone, was held on 19th November and was attended by nearly 70 volunteers and representatives from participating groups. The 20th Anniversary Fundraising Concert was held for the first time on the 3rd of June in Revesby Workers’ Club. To stage this event we accepted the artistic challenge of creating something new, to demonstrate the strength of cultural diversity and community harmony. And we were successful, both artistically and financially. The concert brought in over $15,000. Our thanks go to all who participated, especially the sponsors, and to our volunteers: Kim Vo, Hiep Ho, Brian Laul, Yen Pham and their fundraising team. Another great development is the planned launch of the first Children’s Festival in Campbelltown next Sunday, the 5th of August. We are sure this event will inspire the people of the Macarthur region to embrace the shared values and cultural traditions at a grassroots level, and once again prove the popularity of our Children’s Festival concept. I would like to congratulate Brian and his team for their tremendous efforts and strongly urge everyone to support this new event. We will conclude our very busy year of celebrations with the Twentieth Children’s Festival to be held on the Sixteenth of September at Park, Bankstown. We will launch our 2019 activities with the sixth Sydney Children’s Festival on Sunday, Tenth of March at First Fleet Park, at Circular Quay in the city. Along with our excellent work in staging the Children’s Festivals, we have also significantly improved our finances through successful fundraising efforts. Consequently, the organisation’s finances are in a much better position than in previous years. This will be reported in detail later by our Treasurer, Gurmeet Kaur. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Gurmeet, and Thanh Mai for their tremendous effort in preparing the End of Year financial reports. Our events have been also received wider support from the media, thanks to Warren’s contribution. We need to keep strengthening our marketing and fundraising efforts, improving the quality and content of our Children’s Festivals in order to further satisfy the expectation of the wider community. The year, 2018, marks the 20th anniversary of the CFO and I believe we have so far done a great job! I wish to express my sincere thanks to the members of the Advisory Committee, the Management Committee, particularly the Chairpersons, for their commitment throughout the year. I particularly thank all of our sponsors, Federal and State Governments, the City of Canterbury-Bankstown, the City of Sydney, the City of Campbelltown and the corporate sponsors for their faith in our Children’s Festivals and for their generous support. We are also indebted to those children and adults who contributed so much on the day of each of our events. These are the schools, dance groups, community groups, youth clubs, marching bands and the charities that organised outdoor activities and took part in the wonderful entertainment program. Thank you so much. I would also like to thank particularly our long-serving volunteers for their dedication to the vision of our Organisation, which is to bring all children from every culture into an environment where they quite naturally play and live together in harmony in this wonderful country of Australia. I am so fortunate and happy to have worked with hundreds of enthusiastic and devoted Children’s Festival friends in the last 20 years to bring our 30 Children’s Festivals to success. Looking back on the 20 years of this Festival, we should be proud that we have made a difference in helping to build harmony in our society starting with children and bringing joy and pride to all of us, particularly to the children in our multicultural Australia. We have worked together harmoniously and in the most economical way to obtain these achievements. I would like to say “thank you” to you all for your great contribution and co-operation in the past 20 years. I look forward to another great year of achievement and growth. Please accept my deep appreciation for your continued efforts. Thank you very much for your attention today. Thuat V. Nguyen, OAM

Children’s Festival in Sydney, First Fleet Park, Sunday 8.4.2018

On Sunday 8 April 2018, the Children’s Festival Organisation, in its 20th Anniversary Year, held its 30th Children’s Festival, and the 5th in Sydney city under sunny skies. This Festival was again a part of the City of Sydney’s “Living in Harmony Festival”. For the fourth consecutive year, the Festival was held at First Fleet Park between Circular Quay and The Rocks with the picturesque backdrop of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour. This Park continues to be a good location with incidental pedestrian traffic ensured a good crowd for most of the day.

Track work that closed Circular Quay Railway Station caused more than a little inconvenience and frustration, and no doubt affected some of the crowd numbers, but this was somewhat compensated by the large passenger ship in port near to the Festival site. Vehicular service access to the Park was also affected by light rail construction and the compound for this under the Cahill Expressway next to the Park.

The Festival organisers were delighted that the Minister for Multiculturalism and Minister for Disability Services, Hon Ray Williams MP, could again open the Festival. Other honoured guests who spoke included Aunty Millie Ingram, who gave the Acknowledgement to Country; MP, State Member for Oatley and Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure; and Deputy Mayor Jess Miller (with her daughter) representing the Lord Mayor of Sydney. Letters of Support were also received from MP, State Member for Lakemba and Shadow Minister for Education; MP, State Member for Canterbury and Shadow Minister for Women, Ageing, Disability Services and Multiculturalism; MP, State Member for Sydney: Dr G.K. Harinath OAM and Hakan Harman, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer respectively of Multicultural NSW; and Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney.

The colourful and vibrant atmosphere at the Festival was highlighted by a Children’s Parade and on-stage entertainment from mid-morning to late afternoon, and some 30 performing groups from different cultures, including a Traditional Aboriginal Welcome and National Anthem performed by a multicultural children’s group. A variety of children’s activities – animal farm, colouring in, face painting, giant bubbles, henna art, kite making, mural, parachute games, traditional costume display, Tumbletown mobile centre, umbrella painting and under 5’s area, etc, kept the children well occupied and entertained. There was also a poster competition on the theme, “Celebrating Australia Together” with winners announced and entries displayed at the Festival.

There was integral and invaluable participation of many community organisations and volunteers and other in-kind support. Funding or sponsorship support was received from the NSW Government (Multicultural NSW and Property NSW), and from several minor sponsors including the City of Sydney, Metro Assist, Scouts Australia NSW, Settlement Services International, Sikh Association of Sydney, Universal Peace Federation, and the Vietnamese Students’ Association. However, the need to find additional and alternative funding beyond government grants and usual regular supporters continues to be self-evident. So long as ongoing financial support can be secured, the Children’s Festival in Sydney city is destined to become an integral ongoing annual event in this city’s calendar. We owe all this to the vision, passion and tireless commitment to Children’s Festival Organisation Founder and President, Thuat Nguyen OAM.

Due to the NSW State election in late March, we have reserved an earlier date for next year’s Festival in First Fleet Park - Sunday 10 March. We look forward to your ongoing support and to seeing you there!

Co-Chairs: Mark Burfield & Kana Phung

Children’s Festival in Bankstown Paul Keating Park, Sunday 17.9.2018

Another successful City of Canterbury Bankstown Children's Festival was held on Sunday 17th September 2017 at Paul Keating Park. We reached a new record of 584 poster competition entries! Thank you to the children who worked hard in submitting their posters with the theme "Water is Life", and to our judges for reviewing each and every poster!

We would like to thank our distinguished guests for taking the time out of their day to attend this festival, in particular, Ms MP, Member for Holsworthy, representing The Hon. Ray Williams MP, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Multiculturalism, for opening the festival. We are always grateful for the support we receive from our community and our sponsors. Your contribution and continued support has been invaluable.

We had approximately 10000 attendees enjoying the day with smiles on their faces as they watched our non stop multicultural performance program and filled their bellies with a variety of international flavours from our food stalls. The Children's Parade has always been one of the highlights of the festival over the years and CCBCF17 was no exception. We had many participants proudly displaying their colourful and exquisite national costumes and group uniforms supported by the vibrant beats from our marching bands. There were sounds of laughter from the kids (and also the kids at heart) as they enjoyed the activities and rides on offer such as our ever popular kite making workshop and animal farm.

As always, the success on the day would not be possible without the tireless help of our key volunteers working hard behind the scenes for many months leading up to the event. Nor could we deliver such an event without the help of our volunteers on the day. We would like to thank all our volunteers for making CCBCF17 a great success!

The CBCF18 at Paul Keating Park promises to be bigger and better than ever before as we mark our 20th Anniversary! We are excited to see you all again on the 16th September 2018 to help us celebrate this impressive milestone!

Co-Chairs: Kana Phung & Mai Ly

The 20th Anniversary Fundraising Concert

The Fundraising Concert to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Children’s Festival Organisation was a resounding success. This event was held on the 3rd of June at Revesby Workers’ Club with a spectacular entertainment program - The Wizard of Oz Interactive Show. It was great to see that the theatre was packed with over 600 adults and children who enjoyed every minute of it. The Wizard of Oz Interactive Show was an unbelievable musical show filled with surprises and unpredictable. It was truly vibrant, colourful, energetic and fascinating show with lots of fun that led audiences to a new adventure with a unique experience by following “The Yellow Brick Road” with characters like The Munchkins, Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Lion, Dorothy and the Wicked Witch of the West. With every twist and turn, they met new people with their own culture to dance and to sing along the way. According to Mr Brian Laul, Director of the Wizard of Oz Interactive Show, the story in the show is about mateship, self- empowerment where a diverse group of people was helping each other as they were on the same journey. The show also embodied the very spirit of the Children's Festival that seeks to celebrate unity in diversity. Participating in the show were 15 children groups from diverse cultural backgrounds. Those children represented their cultural communities with dancing and singing performances in their traditional costumes and accordance to Mr Thuat Van Nguyen, OAM, President of the Children’s Festival The Torch 26.6.2018, page 46 Organisation, this truly highlighted the strength of cultural diversity and harmony in our community. The program concluded with an international costume parade and a raffle draw after nearly two hours of non-stop music and dancing. The fundraising concert would not have been possible without the earnest effort of the theatrical producer and actor, Mr Brian Laul, who has been an integral part of the Children’s Festival for many years, 15 children groups, their teachers and parents, staff at the Revesby Workers’ Club and volunteers who worked tirelessly for several months in preparation for the event. The money raised from the concert was over $15,000. This is much-needed money for future Children’s Festival, thanks to the generosity of many organisations and individuals such as Gajic Lawyers, The Torch, Revesby Workers’ Club, Huong Giang Jewellery, Viet Luan Newspaper, Dan Viet Newspaper, Van Nghe, Gold Star Real Estate, G’day Driving School Sydney, Aloha Events, Ms Gurmeet Kaur, The Wizard of OZ Funland and many more… No doubt, the fundraising concert was well received with many positive feedbacks. However, we think there are still room for improvement especially on ticket sales, advertising materials, seating plan etc. With experience learned, we hope we will be able to hold similar concert even better next time! Co-Chairs: Kim Vo & Hiep Ho

Macarthur to hold its first Children’s Festival in August

Children are invited to celebrate Macarthur’s cultural diversity with a fun day out, hands-on activities and non-stop entertainment at the inaugural Macarthur Multicultural Children’s Festival on Sunday 5 August.

The Macarthur region has a significant number of residents who were born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas, and it is this diverse cultural background that adds to the rich tapestry of our region’s life.

What better way to celebrate our diversity than with a Macarthur Multicultural Children’s Festival! Families coming together at Koshigaya Park, Campbelltown from 10.30am to 4.30pm can participate in variety of activities and displays, enjoy stage and roaming entertainment, learn new things, and sample food from across the globe.

Our children can only benefit from mixing with their peers from the many cultures within our community and taking part in exciting activities to learn from one another and make lasting friendships. Next year, we have a number of activities planned through the year as a lead up to the Festival.

Twenty years ago, Thuat Nguyen OAM had the vision that “children who played together lived together in harmony”.

The Macarthur community has embraced this vision from the word go and a number of the community’s movers and shakers have got together to form a committee and make the annual festival here a reality. I am eternally thankful to these community, business and political leaders for the talents and time they have so generously gifted to this Festival.

Brian Laul Festival Director

14 Years with the Children’s Festival

I first heard about the Children’s Festival when I worked in Bankstown as a community development worker in 2004. I was trying to figure out a way of bringing families with young children together and connect them to services, when someone happened to mention the Children’s Festival.

I attended their meeting in the Scout Hall and was surprised to find a room of mainly older men, and mainly scout or guide- leaders from diverse backgrounds and all volunteers, talking about a day for children ‘playing together and living in harmony’ – a day of multicultural celebration. What is more, they invited me to participate.

I represented the working-side of Bankstown. I facilitated a network of child and family services who worked with families Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm. So my challenge was to bring those services to a Saturday event. If it worked, it could link those services to more families and those families to services that could assist them. As it turned out ‘Families First’, as it was known then, did support the 2004 Festival. We had early childhood activities such as sandplay and easel painting next to the Interagency stall actually on the street. Our Villawood Playgroup sung Nursery Rhymes on stage and the Vietnamese Playgroup also performed.

In 2005 I left Bankstown to work in Marrickville but I took with me the inspiration from Bankstown Children’s Festival. From 2006-2011 we ran “Dance Around the World” at Marrickville West Primary School and in 2012 and 2013 we joined forces with the Children’s Festival to run the first Marrickville Children’s Festivals. It rocked with the energy that it always brings, with Lion Dancing and costume parade through the main streets, and just so many wonderful creative child-centred activities and synergies, that proved a great day for all those involved.

During that period I was Secretary of the Children’s Festival and then Vice President until 2017. I have helped out at nearly every festival whether in Bankstown or Sydney, organising the Under 5’s Play Area, until KU Children’s Services took the reins in 2015.

At the end of this year I move to Tasmania, my place of birth, and where many of my family and friends remain. I consider my time with the Children’s Festival a time of great inspiration, where faith in the capacity for a generous cohesive society is restored. There are many great lights in the Team leading the Children’s Festival but the one that shines brightest is the visionary Thuat Nguyen.

Vivi Martin 10th June 2018 Children's Festival Organisation Inc. A.B.N. 85 264 520 983

Statement of Financial Position as at 31 May 2018

2018 2017 $ Difference % Difference

Assets Current Assets Cash On Hand Main Account $23,769.89 $12,357.18 $11,412.71 92.40% Childrens Festival Gift Fund $35,892.65 $20,985.92 $14,906.73 71.00% Inventory - Lanterns $288.50 $531.50 ($243.00) -45.70% Total Current Assets $59,951.04 $33,874.60 $26,076.44 76.98% Non-Current Assets Plant & Equipment Plant & Equipment at Cost $14,550.82 $26,469.27 ($11,918.45) -45.00% Plant & Equipment Accum Dep ($12,219.25) ($22,241.93) $10,022.68 45.10% Total Plant & Equipment $2,331.57 $4,227.34 ($1,895.77) -44.80% Total Non-Current Assets $2,331.57 $4,227.34 ($1,895.77) -44.80% Total Assets $62,282.61 $38,101.94 $24,180.67 63.50%

Liabilities Current Liabilities GST Collected $4,671.22 $26,301.06 ($21,629.84) -82.20% GST Paid ($5,325.04) ($22,689.64) $17,364.60 76.50% Total Current Liablities ($653.82) $3,611.42 ($4,265.24) -118.10% Total Liabilities ($653.82) $3,611.42 ($4,265.24) -118.10% Net Assets $62,936.43 $34,490.52 $28,445.91 82.50%

Equity Accumulated Surplus (Deficit) ($12,206.14) ($12,206.14) $0.00 0.00% Retained Earnings $11,242.28 ($2,385.91) $13,628.19 571.20% Current Year Earnings $23,926.10 $9,108.38 $14,817.72 162.70% Historical Balancing $39,974.19 $39,974.19 $0.00 0.00% Total Equity $62,936.43 $34,490.52 $28,445.91 82.50%

Children's Festival Organisation Inc. A.B.N. 85 264 520 983

Statement of Cash Flows For the year ended 31 May 2018

2018 2017 Operating services Receipts from: Grants $30,250.00 $29,050.00 Donations $20,192.80 $14,738.00 Sponsorships $22,175.01 $13,550.00 Memberships $44.00 $39.00 Fundraising Tickets $9,460.00 $20,896.95 Stall Fees $8,479.20 $7,585.00 Interest Income $55.46 $42.00 GST return from ATO $1,225.00 Other Income $770.00 $534.01 Payments to: Clients, suppliers and others ($63,457.02) ($75,410.36) GST paid to ATO ($555.00) Net cash provided by operating activities $27,414.44 $12,249.59 Investing activities Purchase of property, plant and equipment ($1,095.00) ($3,638.74) Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment Net cash provided by/ (used in) investing activities ($1,095.00) ($3,638.74) Net change in cash and cash equivalents $26,319.44 $8,610.85

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year $33,343.10 $24,732.25 Main Account $12,357.18 Gift Fund Account $20,985.92

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year $59,662.54 $33,343.10 Main Account $23,769.89 Gift Fund Account $35,892.65

Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Suite 12, 76-80 John St Cabramatta NSW 2166 Tel.: 02-9726 0222 Looking back on 20 years of our Children’s Festival

Outdoor living, children’s festivals, and some we raised a humble budget of about $6,000 for other passions have travelled with me the first Children’s Festival which was held on regardless of where I have lived, whether that 25 September, 1999 at Bankstown City was the refugee camp on an island of the Paceway, starting at 2pm and finishing at 8pm, Philippines, in the south western corner of after the spectacular lion dance and a colorful West Germany or in the premier state of lantern parade. It attracted approximately Australia, New South Wales. 5,000 participants from diverse cultural backgrounds and from many walks of life. After being involved with the Mid-Autumn Festivals for Vietnamese children in Greater Encouraged by the success of the Children’s Western Sydney in the 1990’s, I began to see Festival of 1999 and the positive feedback that it would make more sense to hold a from the volunteers and the participating Children’s Festival for all children in groups, we embarked on formalising the Australia, regardless of their cultural Children’s Festival Organisation and it was backgrounds. This would enable children from officially incorporated on April 20, 2000. The any community to participate in enjoyable Children’s Festival 2000 was held on Saturday activities in a cultural exchange, and help to October 14 from 9am to 9pm at Bankstown build a more cohesive society starting with the City Paceway, with quite a number of young. I believed that the establishment of a interesting developments. One of the new children’s festival of this nature where none activities was Water Puppetry contributed by had existed before would be a meaningful some of the key volunteers. So on September contribution to multicultural Australia. This 20 the Water Puppetry amazed the audience in idea was fully supported by some warm- Cabramatta for the first time and helped hearted close friends who were happy to do promote the second Children’s Festival to be something for the community. As a result, the held in Bankstown some weeks later. To first Children’s Festival in Australia was accommodate the growing participation of conceived. numerous performing groups, a second stage was set up in the open air while the first stage was still in the under-cover area of the Paceway. Luckily we were able to print the Festival program booklets, showing the detailed program, messages of support, the Children’s Festival Song and my article “A Children’s Festival for children in Australia” (which was also printed in some Vietnamese magazines). The Festival was again a success thanks to the support of a great number of participating groups. The NSW Police Band came to lead the parade. Groups such as Scouts Australia-Bankstown District, the Islamic Charity Projects Association, Vietnamese Cultural Schools Association, Kirrawee and Cumberland Gang Shows, Bankstown Girls High School, Cabramatta Thanks to the very kind support of the West Public School, Lithuanian Children’s nd st Vietnamese community, 2 Bankstown and 1 Folk Dancing Group and the Buddhist Youth Canley Heights Scout Groups, a tremendous Association were among the key performing effort began to make this idea a reality.Along groups. The Festival was attended by the State with our many enthusiastic volunteers and an MP, the Mayor of Bankstown, the Chairperson organising committee, we began the process of of Ethnic Affairs Commission of NSW (which planning, promoting and fundraising. Together was later re-named the Community Relations The first Marrickville Children’s Festival at Commission for A Multicultural NSW), many Marrickville West Public School was held in community leaders and a big audience. March 2012 and was an instant success thanks to the strong support of the local community The Children’s Festival 2001 was held on and the school. The second festival in Saturday 22nd of September at the new venue, Marrickville in March 2013 was also a great Paul Keating Park, in the central location of success. Apart from more than 30 activities for Bankstown CBD. Thanks to the generous children and a full entertainment program on- support of Bankstown Council, particularly in stage, it saw the first Welcoming the Babies in promotion and sponsorship, Scouts Australia, Marrickville run by local MPs Anthony SBS Radio, Bankstown Square, Bankstown Albanese and Carmel Tebbutt. Each of the Sports Club, and the growing participation of two recent festivals in Marrickville attracted local schools and youth groups, the number of approximately 4,000 participants from all participants rose to 10,000 and then up to walks of life and drew strong support from the 15,000 between 2004 and 2009. Our local community thanks to the great team work Children’s Festival was named as one of the of dozens of enthusiastic volunteers under the “Seven Wonders in Bankstown” on the leadership of Vivi Martin. occasion of its Silver Jubilee - 25 years as a City - in a 2005 Bankstown Council Brochure.

In September 2008, Nine Network, Australia, filmed and reported on our festival after broadcasting a live preview on its Today- Show’s Weather Cross. In 2009, the first Welcoming the Babies was held on the festival day September 26 lead by the local Federal MP, Jason Clare. The Children’s Festival remained in Paul Keating Park until 2010, then moved temporarily back to Bankstown Paceway due to the construction of the Bankstown library at the Town Hall site. We A children’s festival in the City of Sydney, the then moved back to Paul Keating Park and heart of NSW, had been my vision for many remained there from 2013 until now. years. I thought that a successful festival in the City of Sydney would not only set a model for In 2009, I was delighted that Mike Weatherly other areas in the State but it may also attract took over the Chairmanship in Bankstown so the attention of cities in other states. A that I could concentrate on expanding the Children’s Festival Showcase held at the Festival. Our Children’s Festival in Canterbury Embassy Conference Centre of the Universal was inaugurated in the same year. John Peace Federation, Sydney on April 4, 2013 Pestana Jnr. has been the Chairperson since its helped create stronger support from the State beginning. The first Canterbury Children’s Government for this idea. Our first Children’s Festival was held at the Harcourt Public Festival in Sydney was held successfully on School in Campsie on October 23 in 2009 and Sunday 30 March 2014 in Belmore Park it was an immediate success, with (opposite Central Railway Station) and approximately 5,000 participants. In the attracted approximately 5,000 participants. following years, there have been three The following festivals in the city have been consecutive Canterbury Children’s Festivals in held in First Fleet Park close to Circular Quay 2010, 2011 and 2012 at the same venue. until now. This wonderful location provides Unfortunately due to the construction of new the opportunity to showcase our harmonious buildings in the school ground, Harcourt diversity to the world when we welcome to the Public School was no longer available for the festival site international tourists and cruise festival and therefore there was no Children’s ship passengers exploring our great nearby Festival in Campsie in 2013. attractions – the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Now in its 20th year, the Children’s expressed on the happy faces of the children, Festival has been recognised as the premier the friendships made, the contribution to event in Sydney City’s annual Living in community harmony achieved and the Harmony calendar. Mark Burfield and Kana enthusiastic support of the participating groups Phung have been the Co-Chairs of the are the big rewards for those who volunteer for Children’s Festival in Sydney since 2016. the Children's Festival. Our Children’s Festival Organisation has also been recognised by the Our most recent success was the 20th Australian Government as a registered charity Anniversary Fundraising Concert held on with Deductible Gift Recipient status 3.6.2018 at Revesby Workers’ Club. Apart endorsement since 2011. The Children’s from the financial result, our Organisation has Festival in Bankstown on 12.9.2015 was for the first time successfully demonstrated the honored with the presence of His Excellency strength of cultural diversity and community General the Honourable David Hurley AC harmony, by accepting the artistic challenge of DSC (Retired), Governor of New South Wales creating something new. Thanks to Brian and Mrs Hurley. His Excellency officially Laul’s theatrical skills in moulding and opened the festival. directing over 600 participants, the Wizard of Oz was a big hit with the capacity audience. Looking back on the 20 years of Children’s Meanwhile the inaugural Macarthur Festival, I am very happy with its Multicultural Children’s Festival will take achievements and sincerely grateful for the place on August 5th 2018 in Koshigaya Park, very kind support of our sponsors and Campbelltown. Thanks to the tremendous supporters as well as participating groups. I am efforts of Brian and his team, we have again particularly grateful to the Chairs and Co- been able to demonstrate the popularity of our Chairs of our Festivals – Mike, John, Vivi, Children’s Festival concept. Mark, Dinh, Evan, Kana, Kim, Mai, Hiep and Brian – and the members of our Management Committee. I acknowledge as well the tremendous efforts of our tireless volunteers and specially many friends who have been active from the beginning of the festival in 1999. Thanks to the Children’s Festival Organisation, I have many good friends in various cultural communities. They all are very enthusiastic and devoted to our good cause.

Looking forward, I have no doubt that with continuous effort, our Children’s Festival will expand and spread to many other areas if the appropriate financial support is available. Our dream of a Children’s Festival for all children In the last 20 years, it is estimated that in Australia, bringing joy and pride to all, and approximately 250,000 people have helping to build a more cohesive society in participated in our thirty Children’s Festivals Australia, will one day be achieved. I am in Bankstown, Canterbury, Marrickville and hopeful that those who have kindly supported Sydney, and more than 300,000 voluntary our Children’s Festival over the years will be work hours have been contributed to the as happy with our achievements in the last 20 community by over 1,200 volunteers. Many of years as I am. the volunteers are young people who enjoyed the festival as young children in the last Thuat V. Nguyen, OAM decade and are now doing good things for Founder younger generations by either helping to Children’s Festival Organisation Inc. organise the festivals or by bringing their own kids to enjoy the events. The joy and pride CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL ORGANISATION INC. AGM 2018

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING | REVESBY WORKERS’ CLUB | 29 JULY 2018

Children’s Festival Organisation Inc. web: https://www.childrensfestival.com.au/ facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensFestivalOrganisationlnc/