Toowoomba is the second largest inland city, located in the region of the famous Great Dividing Range in the Southwest of Queensland, with a population of close to 100,000. Toowoomba is known as the “Garden City” in Australia
thanks to its pleasant temperate climate, which provides perfect conditions for a wide range of plants and flowers. In spring when all the flowers are in bloom, the city is truly like a big garden itself.
On September 21, 2002 Toowoomba held its 53rd Grand Floral Parade, and thus declared open a nine-day long Carnival of Flowers.
As in the last two years, Queensland Falun Dafa practitioners participated with enthusiasm in the Grand Parade, and once again displayed the brilliance of Falun Dafa to tens of thousands of local people as well as numerous visitors
from elsewhere, including Mainland China.
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Falun Gong exercise demonstration during the parade
Traditional Fan Dance during the parade
At mid-day, the parade slowly marched into the crowded city center, with the Falun Dafa float gracefully moving along accompanied by the serene Falun Dafa “Pu Du”
music.
The 3-kilometer-long route for the parade was crowded with tens of thousands of people on both sides of the road. When the parade passed in front of the central
rostrum, the Master of Ceremonies announced loudly, “Here comes the Falun
Dafa contingent. Falun Dafa follows the principles of Truth, Compassion and
Forbearance. It helps people improve their health and morality, and enables
people to gain happiness and inner peace. It is believed if more people live by the
principles of Truth, Compassion and Forbearance, our world would become an even
better place. Please join me to give Falun Dafa a big round of applause!”
Before he had finished, loud applause and cheers burst from the crowds. It was
truly touching to see Falun Dafa being embraced by so many people. Falun Dafa practitioners waved
their hands and fans in appreciation of their support and recognition. Many people
in the crowd nodded their heads when they read the banners, especially the
one which said, ” The World Needs Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.”
One western lady cheered loudly in the crowd, ” Falun Dafa is absolutely
very, very good!”
In the crowds there were also quite a number of students and tourists from
Mainland China. Many were very excited and kept waving their hands
while some others looked a bit at a loss, because what they were seeing was
completely different from the propaganda they received in China, and they began
to reflect upon what Falun Gong really was.
As the evil lies of the Jiang Zemin regime are exposed one after another,
more and more people will get to know the truth and Falun Dafa will undoubtedly
continue to take root in the hearts of the people.
Queensland Falun Dafa practitioners, Australia
Posting date: 26/Sep/2002
Original article date: 24/Sep/2002
Category: Events
