<p class="ql-block">2021年9月，在澳洲边远小镇洛克汉普顿多元文化节上当地华人协会主席郝晓东向大家推介醒狮这样说道：</p><p class="ql-block">“欢迎“阿殷”、“勇华”和 <span style="font-size: 18px;">“华星”</span>从19世纪又回到了我们中间。” 原来这三头醒狮是以洛克汉普顿华人先驱的名字来命名的。</p> <p class="ql-block">舞狮是广受欢迎的中国传统民俗文化形式之一，常常见于节日庆祝、文化交流、生意开张等重大庆典场合。</p><p class="ql-block">让我们来看一看华人协会的这三头狮子，他们有着雄健的身躯、柔软的鬃毛、忽闪忽闪的眼睛活像兔子，他们有着龙的触须、老虎的爪子、犀牛的独角， 看这狮子的胡须像是山羊胡还是龙须呢？</p><p class="ql-block">根据中国民间传说，这些色彩斑斓、高大威猛而又灵动可爱的狮子是和平的使者、是富裕吉祥的象征，他们能给我们带来好运气。 看他们走路时总是闪转腾挪，不走直线，据说这样可以赶走妖魔，因为人们相信妖魔鬼怪只会走直线。</p> <p class="ql-block">同时咱们洛克汉普顿华人协会的狮子也提醒我们大家，160 多年来，华人的活动一直是昆士兰中部地区风景的一部分。早在十九世纪中叶，华人前辈们就来到了这里，有淘金者、有商人、也有开杂货铺的、有开酒店的、有菜农、也有厨师、有果蔬商贩，还有许多其它各个行业的从业者，华人是当地社区大家庭的成员，一直在为当地社区做着贡献。所以，我们用华人先驱的名字为狮子命名，以纪念该地区中国人在十九世纪的历史。 </p> <p class="ql-block">May I introduce you to the Rockhampton Chinese Association’s three Lions.</p><p class="ql-block">Chinese Lion Dances are a popular feature of cultural festivals and special events.</p><p class="ql-block">Our Chinese dancing lions have the soft body of a lion, the shaggy fur of a lion, the eyes of a rabbit, the antlers of a deer, the ears of a dog, the antenna of a dragonfly, the paws of a tiger, the horn of a rhino and the beard of a billy goat.</p><p class="ql-block">It is customary for them to deliberately walk in a zig zag pattern to confuse evil spirits; because it is believed that evil spirits move only in straight lines.</p><p class="ql-block">Chinese Folktales say that these Lions are peaceful. They are colourful, they dance playfully, and they beckon good fortune.</p><p class="ql-block">Our Rockhampton Chinese Association Lions are also a reminder that Chinese peoples have been part of the Central Queensland scene for more than 160 years. So, we have named our lions to honour the History of the Chinese people in this region, who, in the nineteenth century; were gold diggers, merchants, shopkeepers, publicans, market gardeners, cooks, fruiterers and many other trades, as well as family members of the local community.</p> <p class="ql-block">咱们的黄色狮子名叫殷（Yin），是用阿殷先生（Mr Ah Yin）的名字命名的。阿殷先生曾在19世纪洛克汉普顿 郊区的Rosewood Diggings 金矿一带开有商铺，他也曾运营自己的酒店。殷氏家族现在已经有七代人在澳大利亚出生，仍然居住在昆士兰中部地区生活。</p> <p class="ql-block">Our yellow Lion - Yin – is named after Mr Ah Yin, a storekeeper and publican, on the Rosewood Diggings goldfield outside Rockhampton. Mr Ah Yin’s family is now seven generations Australian born, still living in Central Queensland.</p> <p class="ql-block">咱们的红色狮子名叫勇华（Wing's Courage），是 以 Wing Wah 先生的名字命名的，勇华曾在 Bolsover Street开有杂货铺和茶馆。 1869 年，他们还在女王生日时出售烟花。伴随舞狮燃放烟花也是一个普遍的中国传统民俗。</p> <p class="ql-block">Our Red Lion – Wing’s Courage – is named after Mr Wing Wah and Company, who traded as a Family Grocery and Tea Emporium in Bolsover Street Rockhampton. In 1869 they also sold Fireworks for the Queen’s Birthday. It is a common tradition for fireworks to accompany lion dances.</p> <p class="ql-block">咱们的黑狮名叫华星（ Wah Sing），是以19世纪当地的水果蔬菜商贩 Wah Sing 先生的名字命名的，他曾挑着扁担在洛克汉普顿的大街小巷卖菜做生意。他的产品主要来源于当地的中国菜园。今天我们洛克汉普顿华人协会的一位会员也是sing氏家族的另一分支的后人。</p> <p class="ql-block">Our Black Lion – Wah Sing – is named after a local fruit and vegetable hawker, Mr Wah Sing, who plied his trade along the streets of Rockhampton. His produce would have been supplied by local Chinese market gardens. Another Sing Family are members of today’s Rockhampton Chinese Association.</p> <p class="ql-block">我们相信，为这些狮子命名是对我们当地洛克汉普顿华人先驱的很好纪念，这些狮子的名字使我们感到先辈的精神今天仍然与我们同在。 </p> <p class="ql-block">We believe that naming these lions is an excellent memorial for our local Rockhampton ancestors; and will help us feel that their spirit is still with us today in the Rockhampton Community.</p> <p class="ql-block">你们辛苦啦！感谢舞狮的小伙伴们！</p> <p class="ql-block" style="text-align: center;">【七律】舞狮</p><p class="ql-block" style="text-align: center;">锣鼓震天催众聚，文殊吉兽醒仙庭。</p><p class="ql-block" style="text-align: center;">飞身落步轻临水，摇尾腾挪巧采青。</p><p class="ql-block" style="text-align: center;">稳上梅桩桩顶秀，频开慧目目光灵。</p><p class="ql-block" style="text-align: center;">狮魂抖擞承祥瑞，世代传承舞不停。</p> <p class="ql-block">澳洲边缘小镇洛克汉普顿华人社区用当地华人先驱的名字来命名醒狮得到了当地社区广泛欢迎和认同。</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">“我们感到先辈们又回来了！” </p><p class="ql-block"><span style="font-size: 18px;">------ 当地的的华裔这样说。</span></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">“有文化，有历史，有传承！” </p><p class="ql-block">“用这样的形式传承历史真的太好了！”</p><p class="ql-block">------社区华人这样评论道。</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p> <p class="ql-block">二零二一年九月</p>