Dear Members and Friends,

 Lunar New Year Dinner

The celebration of the 2026 Lunar New Year, Tribute to Elders & HSC Scholarship Award dinner was held on Sunday 22 February 2026, at Sunny Seafood Restaurant. Approximately 400 members together with guests attended the event. All attendees received a gift pack on the night and approx. 180 senior members received a red packet as well. The winner of the 2025 HSC Scholarship is MsChristiana Soo (ATAR 98.90). Congratulations to Christiana for her outstanding achievement and she was presented with the $3,000 scholarship award. A consolation award was presented to Edward Huang (ATAR 99.20) who reported his result after the deadline for the HSC Scholarship application. There were lucky draws for all attendees. Also, plenty of fabulous entertainment including the lion dancing, singing and dancing. Everyone enjoyed the dinner and entertainment performance.

 Art Gallery of NSW Tour

A visit to the Art Gallery of NSW is the perfect day out for families, kids of all ages. Guided Tour by Minnie Liang who is a qualified professional tour guide. The event includes viewing famous Australian historical paintings and portraits of Australian historical figures, as well as an introduction to masterpieces by world-renowned artists such as Picasso, Van Gogh, and Monet. The visit will last approximately one and a half hours (senior members should assess their own physical ability to participate).

Tour date & time: 25 March 2026 (Wednesday) from 10 am to 12 pm

Cost: General Admission is free for adults, kids and families.

Food & beverage: Food & beverage are at your own cost (BYO)

Places to meet: 10 am at the fountain of Hyde Park or 10:15 am at the entrance of the Art Gallery of NSW

Number of participants: 30 (Max), please register with Ben Wong 0402 799 277 if you wish to attend.

 Ching Ming Festival Tributes

It will be held on Sunday 12 April 2026 at Luk Fook (六福) Kong Shin Tong (廣善堂) in Rookwood Cemetery. The President and Vice President will lead us in paying tribute to our ancestors (上香) at 10:30am, followed by the distribution of gift voucher to members until 11:30pm. Members are reminded to pay their current year membership fees as we will not be accepting payments at the Ching Ming Festival Tributes. Unpaid members and members joined less than one year are not entitled to collect gift voucher.

We will be arranging a complimentary shuttle bus between the Goon Yee Tong office and Rookwood Cemetery. To reserve a seat, members must pay a $10 deposit for a ticket, which will be refunded on the day in the bus. Bus tickets can be reservedwith Ben Wong 0402 799 277 between 2 March 2026 and 3 April 2026. The $10 will be forfeited if members are absent from the event. Attendees will be picked up outside the entrance to Goon Yee Tong (next to the stone lion) at 9am. The bus will leave Haymarket at 9:30am. The bus will return from Rookwood at 12pm and expect to arrive at Haymarket around 1pm.

BRIGADOON - Annual Highland Gathering

This annual event began on 21 October 1978, its principal aim to raise funds for local charities and bring tourists to Bundanoon in particular and the Southern Highlands in general thereby benefiting local businesses, guesthouses and hotels. Continuing to this day, “Bundanoon is Brigadoon” has become one of the most successful events staged in the area. From its humble beginnings of a handful of pipe bands and spectators, and is recognised worldwide and has grown to into one of the finest Highland Gatherings in Australia

Brigadoon is a non-profit registered charity, we do not make a profit in the business sense of the word. After taking into consideration all our costs and appropriating a management budget for the coming year, we distribute the Surplus Pool to the large number of volunteer, charity and community groups in the Southern Highlands that assist us in preparation and presentation of the gathering”.

When visiting Brigadoon take time out to experience the natural beauty, arts, wineries, culture and heritage of the Southern Highlands

BRIGADOON IS A TICKETED EVENT: Admission fee $22 per person

Street Parade starts at 9.00 am, (On Erith Street)

The vibrant street parade features 25 Pipe Bands, Clans, and Floats.

The Oval hosts an Opening Ceremony led by the Chieftain of the Day, the massed pipes and drums display (over 500 participants), Scottish Country Dancing and Scottish Highland Dancing and individual Pipe Band performances

The Southern Highlands Kennel and Obedience Club will be in attendance while the Fiddlers Tent beckons with lively tunes and captivating performances, and Swordplay a professional theatrical fencing and stage combat troupe entertain.

The Bonnie Bairns competition is designed for children under five while Grannies’ Storytelling tent and an array of both traditional and non-traditional children’s games ensures a joyful experience for all ages.

The Kilted Dash infuses athleticism and humour, while the Australian Highland Heavy Weight Championship crowns the champion after five demanding events. The mighty Kilted Warriors take on the Bundanoon Stones, epitomizing strength, stamina and tradition.

And to conclude the event, the Massed Pipes and Drums finale, accompanied by the haunting melody of the Lone Piper, will provide a stirring and unforgettable conclusion to the celebration.

Tour date & time:18 April 2026 (Saturday) from 6:30 am to 4:30 pm

Cost: $22 per person, lunch not included (BYO); GYT provide the bus coach

Place to meet: Attendees gather outside the entrance to Goon Yee Tong (next to the stone lion) at 6:30 am. The bus will leave Haymarket at 6:45 am. The bus will return at 4:30 pm and expect to arrive at Haymarket around 6:30 pm.

Contact person on the date: Geoffrey Lee 0466 974 573

Number of participants: 50 (Max), please register with Ben Wong 0402 799 277 & purchase tickets if you wish to attend (priority to members). Closing date is 3April 2026

The Riverboat Cruise

Just an hour from Sydney’s CBD and connected by both train and freeway, the historic Hawkesbury River mailboat at Brooklyn is the perfect day trip for locals and visitors.

So what do we do on a Sunday when there's no mail? We cruise in the opposite direction towards the National Parks and Broken Bay! Last year we cruised upstream to observe the mail delivery.

Starting at 11am (Sundays deserve a sleep-in), join us for a 3 hour cruise of the spectacular Hawkesbury River. Bring along your family and friends and enjoy morning tea and our delicious Ploughman’s-style lunch on board as you sit back and see the grand old Hawkesbury at its lazy best.We follow part of the itinerary of our popular 'Seven Islands of the Hawkesbury' cruise - learn some of the history and heritage of the area and its beautiful islands: Lion, Dangar, Spectacle and Long Islands, as well as the isolated and secretive Cowan Creek.

This cruise is designed to showcase the opposite end of the river to The Riverboat Postman, so the two cruises can be taken without much overlap.

The views to the ocean behind Lion Island make for some spectacular photos, as will the close-up (tide dependent) view of some ancient Aboriginal rock carvings at Eagle Rock near Broken Bay.

Tour date & time:3 May 2026 (Sunday) from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

Cost: $40 per person for adult members (full fare is $72), $30 per person for senior members (full fare is $62)& $20 for school aged children (full fare is $25). Lunch & morning tea included

Place to meet: Attendees will gather at 9:15 am at Central Station at Platform 8 (subject to change). We will take the 9:50 am train to Hawkesbury River Station. Alternatively, you can go direct to Hawkesbury River Station and meet the group at 10:50 am.

Contact person on the date: Geoffrey Lee 0466 974 573

Number of participants: 50 (Max), please register with Ben Wong 0402 799 277 & purchase tickets if you wish to attend (priority to members). Closing date is 17April 2026

Goon Yee Tong Limited

President, Justin Chan

28 February 2026