Lunar New Year - Year of the Dragon featuring images of the Eastern Water Dragon (found at Parramatta Park), Chinese dragon design usually embroided on the emperor's silk robes, a dancing dragon and the evolution of the Chinese character for dragon (pronounced 'loong', 'long' or 'lung' from left to right the simplified Chinese script version to the ancient oracle bone script, bronze script, seal script, and current traditional Chinese script character.[1]
Saturday 10 February 2024 is the first day of the Year of the Dragon of the Lunar New Year
The Dragon (simplified Chinese: 龙; traditional Chinese: 龍) is the fifth zodiac animal in the 12-year cycle of the lunar calendar. It is the sole imaginary animal.
The Year of the Dragon is associated with the Earthly Branch symbol 辰 (pronounced chen). The Dragon symbolises power, nobleness, honour, luck, and success in traditional Chinese culture. The Dragon is a supernatural being with no parallel for talent and excellence.[2]
According to Chinese legend, dragons (usually with five claws on each foot) were a symbol for the emperor and imperial power in many Chinese dynasties. Starting with the first legendary rulers of China, the Yellow Emperor (黃帝 Huangdi) who at the end of his reign became immortalised into a dragon ('long') before ascending to Heaven. The Chinese sometimes refer to themselves as "the descendants of the dragon" (龍的傳人) as a sign of their ethnic identity and legendary ancestor.[3]
In the 60 year cycle of the corresponding 5 elements Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, 2023 is the Wood Dragon.[4]
Type of Dragon
Year
Characteristics
Wood Dragon
1964, 2024
Introverted, less enthusiastic, and lacking in good relationships
Water Dragon
1952, 2012
Persevering, farsighted, and vigorous
Gold Dragon
1940, 2000
Natural and straightforward, unpredictable with continually changing emotions
Earth Dragon
1928, 1988
Smart, ambitious, and hardworking
Fire Dragon
1916, 1976
Smart, unreliable, and easy going
Things to bring "dragon babies" luck (and what to avoid) [5]:
Major events that happened in the Parramatta LGA in the year of the past dragons [6]:
Year
Event
1905
23 July - Alfred Deakin becomes Prime Minister for a second time.
1916
World War One continues
Gallipoli campaign
Battle of Fromelles, 19-20 July
James Hardie and Company, the asbestos-cement products manufacturer was established. Buying ten-acres of relatively inexpensive land, originally owned by Henry Hudson at Camellia fronting the Parramatta River for the production of ‘Fibrolite’ an asbestos-cement sheet. Operations continued until 1996. https://www.camellia.net.au/site-history/ ; https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/camellia
11 July - Birth of Gough Whitlam, 21st Prime Minister of Australia (d. 2014)
13 November – Prime Minister of Australia Billy Hughes is expelled from the Labor Party, over his support for conscription.
1928
9 June - Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew complete the first flight across the Pacific Ocean, from the mainland United States to Australia, in the Fokker F.VII aircraft Southern Cross. Having left Oakland, California on May 31, they reach Brisbane via Honolulu and Fiji.
28 July to 12 August - IX Summer Olympic Games hosted in Amsterdam, Netherlands
17 November - Australian federal election: Prime Minister Stanley Bruce's Nationalist/Country Coalition Government is re-elected with a decreased majority, defeating the Labor Party led by James Scullin.
1940
World War Two continues
1952
19 July to 3 August - XV Summer Olympic Games hosted inHelsinki, Finland
1964
10-24 October - XVIII Summer Olympic Games hosted in Tokyo, Japan
28 November - Parramatta Central Library opened by Alderman R. W. Van Nooten at Civic Place. Video: https://youtu.be/BQm7Y6Tvyzw
1976
17 July to 1 August - XXI Summer Olympics hosted in Montreal, Canada
23 July - First Parramatta Mayoral Ball (as proposed by Parramatta Mayor, Alderman A. Hyam). The event was organised by the Mayoress of Parramatta Mrs Judy Hyam, and held at Oatlands House
1988
February - Opening of the Riverside Theatre complex.
17 September to 2 October - XXVI Summer Olympics Games hosted in Seoul, South Korea
2 November - Bicentennial of Parramatta’s foundation
Position of Mayor of Parramatta raised by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the status of Lord Mayor in recognition of Parramatta’s significance in the Greater Sydney metropolitan area.
2000
15 September to 1 October - XXVII Summer Olympics Games hosted in Sydney, Australia. Parramatta City Council assisted with accommodation for the Sydney Olympics Games held in Homebush (now Sydney Olympic Park).
Hardware House opens new complex on Woollen Mills site
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals moves operations from Parramatta
2012
13-22 January - Inaugural Sydney Festival Parramatta over 10 days free and ticketed International and Australian theatre, music and film festival starting with the Parra Opening Party
March - opened the Schaeffer’s Track bushwalking path with a tree planting ceremony
23 March - welcomed the inclusion of St Patrick's Roman Catholic Cemetery and Lake Parramatta Dam Wall on the NSW State Heritage Register
March - commenced free access to Council’s swimming centres on Tuesdays
April - won a major award for Parramatta’s innovative ParraSync at the Smart Card Awards Asia in Singapore
May - upgraded software at Council’s libraries to offer a more interactive online catalogue and launched e-resources as part of the Your Digital Library initiative
July - Transformed vacant premises along Beecroft Road into vibrant creative spaces as part of a Pop Up Epping initiative
26 July - Opening of Australia’s first bridge fountain on Barry Wilde Bridge over Parramatta River
July - Welcomed Football Federation Australia’s decision to base its new A-League franchise, the Western Sydney Wanderers FC, in Parramatta
August - Won the Excellence in Engaging and Serving Communities award at the annual Local Government Management Association (LGMA) NSW Management Excellence Awards.
September - Launched a new City Identity campaign to highlight Parramatta’s role in providing for the future growth of Sydney
September - Launched an e-planning tool to allow members of the community to access planning process information and to track the progress of development applications
September - Welcomed the election of Liberal Councillor John Chedid as Lord Mayor for a 12-month period, assisted by Deputy Lord Mayor, Liberal Councillor, Steven Issa
21 September - Welcomed the listing of Hambledon Cottage, one of the oldest buildings in Parramatta, on the NSW State Heritage Register
October - Hosted the City’s first ever lanes event as part of the Crave Sydney International Food Festival
November - Won the Local Government Arts and Culture Award in the Developing Creative and Cultural Industries category for Council’s Pop Up Parramatta arts program.
December - Became the first Council in NSW to sign an Environmental Upgrade Agreement for 10 Valentine Avenue, Parramatta
Tracking the dragon : a guide for finding and assessing Chinese Australian heritage places / by Michael Pearson, 2002. Available at the Local Studies Library at shelf number LS 363.69 PEA
Nian, the lunar dragon : a famous Chinese legend / by Sofia Goodsoul, 2015. Available at Parramatta Library and branches at shelf number YELLOW-G
The dragon's eye / by Dugald A. Steer, 2006. Available at Epping Library at shelf number JF STEE
The dragon painter / by Rosie Dickens, 2006. Available at Parramatta Library and branches at shelf number EJ USBO
How to draw a dragon / by Douglas Florian, 2015. Available at Epping Library at shelf number YELLOW-F
Dragon & kangaroo : Australia and China’s shared history from the goldfields to the present day / by Robert Macklin, 2017. Available at Carlingford Library at shelf number 994.51 MACK
What life was like in the Land of the Dragon : Imperial China, AD 960-1368 / by Time-Life Books, 1998. Available at Epping Library at shelf number 951.024 TIM
Bearded dragons : understanding and caring for your pet / by Lance Jepson,2013. Available at Epping Library at shelf number 639.395 JEP
Dragon lizards of Australia : evolution, ecology and a comprehensive field guide / by Jane Melville, 2019. Available at Wentworth Point Library at shelf number 597.95 MELV
A Dragon Bushwalk
Did you know there is a Water Dragon Walk in Parramatta?
This bushwalking track is about 2.3 km one way and runs between Moxhams Road, Northmead and Goodin Road, Winston Hills, along the eastern side of Quarry Branch Creek and Moxham Park/John Curtin Reserve. Along the way you may spot a water dragon?
