TCA News

This year marks the 20th anniversary of TCA at Fed Square. This much-loved venue has become the go-to destination for anyone wishing to learn or experience Tai Chi and Health Qigong. Tens of thousands of people - of all ages, fitness levels, backgrounds, and nationalities - have joined us to enjoy the transformative benefits of these age-old practices.

As part of the celebrations, a spectacular Tai Chi and Health Qigong exhibition was held on Sunday, 26 May 2024, at The Edge, Federation Square.

TCA was delighted to host Katrina Sedgwick, CEO of Fed Square, and Shona Johnson, Senior Programmer for the Tai Chi program at Fed Square; also Dong Jun, Director of the Health Qigong Management Center of the State Sports General Administration; Liu Dongyuan, Chinese Deputy Consul General in Melbourne; and Jamal Hijam, Melbourne City Councillor. Representatives from the Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne, including Culture Consul Wang Yani, Deputy Consul Zhang Bowen, and Zhu Ying, Director of International Affairs for the Chinese Health Qigong Association, also honored us with their presence.

Katrina Sedgewick, CEO of Fed Square welcomed distinguished guests and the Tai Chi community to the 20th Anniversary of Tai Chi at Fed Square, the city square where community gathers to share stories, culture, and celebrations.

She spoke of the long relationship the Square has had with Tai Chi Australia, and thanked Master Han Jin Song and his instructors for their free weekly Tai Chi classes which have helped promote health, well-being and relaxation across the community. She emphasised that celebrating community and culture is at the heart of Fed Square and that they were proud to support Tai Chi Australia to continue this wonderful programme that is accessible to everyone.

Director Dong Jun said “on behalf of the Chinese Health Qigong Association, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Tai Chi Australia, the Melbourne City Council and Fed Square for their support in making possible this celebration of the opening of the Oceania Health Qigong Training Course.

My deepest respect goes to all of you who care about and support Health Qigong, the 62nd sport of China. Health Qigong can be practised by anyone, anytime, anywhere, and is practised by millions in more than 60 countries and regions across five continents. Here in Australia and New Zealand, thanks to Master Han Jin Song and his colleagues, Health Qigong has spread to every capital city. 

We hope that this Oceania Health Qigong Instructor Training Course will enable more of you to understand and learn about Health Qigong, spreading health and friendship.”

Deputy Consul Liu emphasised the importance of Tai Chi as an essential part of China’s heritage and acknowledged Tai Chi Australia’s role in promoting Chinese traditional culture which enriches our multicultural society.

She thanked the Melbourne City Council and Fed Square for their support of Tai Chi Australia and Health Qigong, and invited us all to visit China, the birthplace of Tai Chi.

Counsellor Hakim welcomed distinguished guests and the Tai Chi community, emphasising how important its contribution has been in helping make Melbourne one of the best cities in the world. He spoke of the importance of Tai Chi for physical and mental health and how these programs were being delivered freely in a public space as he’d seen happening in China- these lessons being one way to help reduce isolation, celebrate healthy ageing and bring different generations together. He closed by saying that as we celebrate 20 years of Tai Chi in Fed Square, let’s all remember to keep active.

Master Han Jinsong reflected on the past 20 years of Tai Chi at Fed Square with a story.

In China, many great cultural events are based on stories. This is a Chinese Australian story.

A year after Fed Square was opened – 26 October 2002 – a Chinese Australian boy was born: Tai Chi Henry. Every Tuesday since, as soon as he was old enough, he has come to Fed Square, welcoming everyone who has come to practise Tai Chi with him. Henry helps to nourish body, mind and spirit, and stimulate the body’s energy with slow, gentle, relaxing movements.

Seven years later, Henry’s brother Health Qi Gong Keith was born. And when he was old enough, he came to Fed Square every Friday morning until CoVid. Melburnians, interstate and overseas visitors would relax and wind down on the last day of the week with Keith, Health Qi Gong Ba Duan Jin.

Now, every Tuesday regardless of the weather, the brothers teach together. Through Tai Chi Australia and Fed Square, Henry, now 20 and Keith 13, continue to grow in every way as good, healthy Chinese Australian citizens.

Some of the highlights of the 20 years of Tai Chi at Fed Square were shown on the screen (see video below).

Located in the city’s heart, tens of thousands of people of all ages and fitness levels, and from all walks of life world-wide, have enjoyed TC and HQ with us at FS.

Fed Square is the only place to practice Tai Chi and Health Qigong on a regular weekly basis, 52 weeks a year, rain or shine, free of charge, thanks to the support of Fed Square.

Thank you for giving TCA the opportunity to share Chinese culture and the benefits TC and HQ offer. Without your full support, all this could not have happened.

TCA student Wendy Smith commenced by welcoming everyone and drawing comparisons between Tai Chi and First Nations beliefs. This is what she said:

“As we look across at Birrarung (the Yarra River) and realize that this is a traditional meeting place and an area of deep cultural significance for its Traditional Owners, the people of the Kulin Nation, we take this opportunity to pay our respects to them.
Students of Tai Chi and Qi Gong practise the cultivation and circulation of energy in the body which is a reminder of the age-old spiritual beliefs of Australia’s First Nations people - the similarity of their awareness of the energy lines running through Country, known in Australia as “Song Lines”, and the Taoist appreciation of energy circulating between heaven and earth through the vehicle of the human body.

Indeed, even as we practise Tai Chi in Fed Square, we are stepping on the beautiful red limestone tiles quarried in the Kimberley in northern Western Australia, from sacred Country.”

Wendy then spoke of the benefits experienced by young and old alike with special thanks to the TCA instructors and Master Han Jin Song. Master Han is a very high-ranking Master of the Chen lineage, who has dedicated the past 36 years to advancing the practice and knowledge of Tai Chi and Health Qi Gong in Australia – his instructors now run classes throughout Melbourne.

He is genuinely kind and committed to the older students, something not always evident in Australian society. He participates in the popular City of Melbourne Health Ageing Program in person and by Zoom, and visits hospitals and care home for Chair Tai Chi.

Wendy also helped the Chinese Health Qi Gong Association for sending a delegation of their leading professors not just to join in the celebration, but for their expert instruction over the weekend Oceania Health Qi Gong course.

To mark this milestone, TCA invited three esteemed Masters from China to take part in the festivities. Attendees were captivated by breathtaking performances showcasing various Tai Chi and Health Qigong forms presented by the Masters, TCA instructors and students, as well as local Tai Chi enthusiasts. Highlights included an awe-inspiring Tai Chi demonstration by Tai Chi World Champion Master Zhu Hongyan and a mesmerising live Guqin music performance by Master Chao Shengjie.

Please click here for more photos of the demonstration.

Master Han concluded the celebration, thanking everyone who attended and extending an invitation to join the Tuesday morning classes at Fed Square.