‘He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skills of the physician ‘He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skills of the physician’ Chinese proverb

Footage recorded by Jim Coad, edited by Carolyn Teo

Two weeks residency in Bendigo, Dja Dja Wurrung Country.

Wun Thong performance and installation @ the Old Fire Station, Bendigo, Victoria.

Bendigo is a town saturated in Chinese culture that dates back as far as the Gold Rush in the 1850’s. The Chinese in Bendigo came from the rural areas of southern China, primarily Guangdong Province. The Chinese that came to Bendigo were mainly men seeking a better future for their families by working on the gold fields. Most of the people were from poor areas and were farmers or artisans. They brought with them their own cultural customs and beliefs, which is still evident in Bendigo today, if you visit the many historical sites like the Bendigo Joss House and Bendigo Cemetery. The Golden Dragon Museum also houses the oldest Imperial Dragon in the world.

Mostly all of the Chinese that came to Bendigo came as sojourners with the intention of going back to their homeland, however some were burdened with debt because of the heavy taxes imposed on them and were unable to afford the trip back home. For those who decided to stay, they were able to make a new home and life in Bendigo, which offered many opportunities and possibilities that may not have been attainable let alone conceivable back home. There were a lot of interracial marriages and relationships with European women, primarily Scottish and Irish women, who saw that the Chinese men were sober and hard working.

The Chinese have played an important role in Bendigo raising money for the local hospital through their Easter procession of Loong the imperial dragon and also providing affordable fresh produce to the community of Bendigo at a time when fresh fruit and vegetables were hard to come by. Food is of great importance to the Chinese, who believe that eating good food can bring harmony and closeness to the family and relationships and as the title of the work suggests, it is also important for ones health.