Santa visits the Louise Centre

Our workplacement student Mei was surprised and delighted today to meet Santa at the Louise Centre.

Santa meets Mei

Our Patron - a surprise visit

We were very excited when our Patron the Hon. Alastair Nicholson paid us a surprise visit today.  He was able to catch up with our President and staff.  He also told us about an amazing project he is working on in regards to children in adult jails in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Photo from left: Ruth; Alastair; Abdi (back row) Klaudia and Cynthia

Beijing Opera Gala Concert

"The Zhao's Orphan" sung by Mr. Shouyi Sun

Today it was my great pleasure to be invited to the Beijing Opera Gala Concert at the Box Hill Senior Citizen's Hall.  The Beijing Opera group meets at the Louise Multicultural Community Centre once a week and have been doing so for some years now.  Members of the group range in ages but are generally retired older members of the community.  They are passionate about their art and very talented - a pleasure to watch and listen to.  The instruments used by their musicians are amazing.  Here the group leader, Mr Shouyi Sun sings "The Zhao's Orphan".  Shouyi is also one of our valued Louise MCC volunteers and is a member of the Louise MCC.  Well done Beijing Opera Group!

Wikipedia:  The story of Zhao's Orphan:  The main story is adapted from historical records of the Spring-Autumn period of 2500 years ago. The king of the state Jin was criticized by a loyal Minister Zhao, for sling-shooting passers-by for personal pleasure. Tu-an took the opportunity to smear the righteous Zhao and got the King's permission to kill every one of the Zhao family to end his bloodline. Zhao's son was married to the Princess who was at the time pregnant. Her life was spared but the baby was to be killed in due course. The Princess managed to smuggle the baby out of the palace with the help of her doctor. Failing to locate and to kill the baby, Tu-an ordered to kill all the infants, if the Zhao's baby was not duly submitted. The doctor sacrificed his own real son to Tu-an and the King in order to save the Zhao's bloodline, causing his own wife to go mad. As the Zhao baby grew, the doctor sent him to be raised next to the king and told him of the truth fifteen years later. The Zhao Orphan then killed Tu-an and completed his revenge, re-establishing the Zhao's family line.

Make Poverty History - update

Volunteers, students and staff at the Louise MCC have made it known that they support the Make Poverty History cause.  In August this year our Blogger, Cara, posted a request for photographs of hands to show support.  Here are some pictures:

French Class

Staff and volunteers

Yin's Cantonese Opera Class

Thank you St Peter's Kindergarten

We were so excited when we saw the masks they had made for our Mask Festival.  We couldn't believe the variety and the talent.  What a creative bunch of 4 year olds! Thanks for your help in decorating the Box Hill Town Hall.

Excursion

The Louise MCC is committed to providing a range of activities that promote women's health.  One such activity is the upcoming excursion to the Melbourne Museum.

Excursion to the

Melbourne Museum

Join us as we delve into history and explore the Melbourne Museum with the world famous Tutankhamun as the highlight.

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Date:  Thursday: 17/11/2011 

Time: 9.30am  until 2.30pm               

COST: $20.00
(Cost includes transport, entry and a healthy light lunch)

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Tutankhamun

the golden age of the pharohs 

A renowned exhibition that has drawn over seven million vistors. The New York Times says its

"Powerful......poigant......a dazzling display".

Cantonese Karaoke Opera Performance

Here the Friendly Cantonese Karaoke Opera group perform at the Louise MCC Mask Festival.  For many Australian born and people from other non-Asian cultures, this was their first experience of the Cantonese Opera singing style.  The stories are very similar to the tales we know and love in opera such as Don Giovanni, Rigoletto, La Traviata etc. and reminds us of tragedies such Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare. 


For Ivy and her team it was their first performance for the Louise MCC and very much enjoyed by everyone.  We look forward to many more performances in the future.

  
Photo:  Ming, Deng and Ivy sing Cantonese Opera.  


Story:   The stories from this traditional cultural art form is dramatic and often sad.  In one of their two songs the marriage between two lovers turns into a suicide pact.