It’s Chinese New Year again (28th January). This time around it is the year of the rooster.
If you were born in a year of the rooster (1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 and this year) – according to one online site you are “beautiful, kind-hearted, hard-working, courageous, independent, humorous and honest.” Lucky you!
With so many people in Canberra with family and business connections to China and other Asian nations with large populations of Chinese origin, it would be very fitting for this annual celebration to be taken far more seriously by the ACT Government.
It could be a very positive time for much more celebrations and fun events resulting in better relations being built between the government and one of its very important local constituencies.
One very tangible way this could be shown would be to revamp the area of Dickson known as Chinatown. The last time serious money was spent on these streets was several decades ago by the government of Rosemary Follett.
The place is now looking a little tired. Still very popular – but ready for a revamp.
Besides the obvious improvements to the décor, the street lamps, and maybe even the facades of buildings, there are other opportunities.
The main street, Woolley Street is very wide. So why not shrink its use by cars and allow for street stalls, markets, and maybe even some garden areas. Why not more greenery with some very appropriate artworks?
Anything could be possible with some creative thinking.
Then Canberra could really have a Chinatown area and it would then be the basis of even better celebrations at this time of the year.
And yes – more people will soon be able to travel there by tram (I thought I would mention the tram before someone else brings it up – as they do).
With so much of Dickson going through change, why not ensure that this section around Woolley and Cape Streets becomes an even more fun place to visit – day or evening.
And it would be a would be a very positive recognition of this very important group within the local community.
And to move along the international relations thingy that has been talked about so much, maybe the ACT Government could hold a joint celebration in Dickson to celebrate its ties with Singapore.
So with those thoughts out there:
Happy New Year to anyone and everyone – and may the year of the rooster bring you good health, good luck and much happiness.