About CYL
The Chinese Youth League (CYL) was first established as the Sydney Chinese Youth Drama Association on 1 July 1939. It was formed by a group of patriotic Australian Chinese Youth gathering regularly in the Shanghai Cafe on Campbell Street, Sydney. Three years later, the name was officially changed to the Chinese Youth League in August 1942. Today it is one of the oldest Chinese Community Organisations in existence in Australia.
Aims & Objectives
Since it’s origins, CYL has worked to promote friendship between Australia and China. Today, it has developed to embrace all round cultural, sports, social and welfare activities as discussed above. The objectives of the Chinese Youth League are to:
- Promote Chinese Cultural activities
- Foster Friendship and Goodwill between Australia and China
- Undertake Welfare and Charitable work
- Organise recreational and sports activities
- Participate in Community activities to promote Multiculturalism
CYL Today
The Chinese Youth League is a Government recognised non-profit community organisation with some 7,000 members coming from all walks of life. It’s activities spread across the social stratum and include the following:
Like all versions of Chinese opera, it is a traditional Chinese art form, involving music, singing, martial arts, acrobatics, and acting.
The group aims to teach and preserve Chinese culture and raise awareness of the beautiful art of Chinese Dancing.
Lion Dancing involves gestures and movements that closely mimic the emotion of the mystical animal tell the story behind the performance.
Wushu is a martial art and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts.
A dragon boat (also dragonboat) is a very long and narrow canoe-style human-powered boat. It is now used in the team paddling sport of dragon boat racing which originated in China over 2000 years ago.
CYL Table Tennis Group holds exercise games on Monday, Thursday and Friday three days a week at the CYL Clubhouse. This activity suits people of all age.
Tai Chi is an internal Chinese martial art often practiced for health reasons. CYL Tai Chi Group practises on every Tuesday.
The Recreation Group is a social group, that organises events and extra-curricular activities for all ages.
Activities can include bush-walking and sightseeing.
A line dance is a choreographed dance in which a group of people dance along to a repeating sequence of steps while arranged in one or more lines or rows.
Calligraphy
The class teach different styles in Chinese calligraphy and we are concentrating in learning (行書）which is a style of Chinese calligraphy at the moment.
Monday: 1:00-3:00pm
Basketball
Basketball has been part of CYL for a long time. Currently a casual activity that is held at:
Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills.
Saturday: 9:30-10:30am
Our Schedule
For a full schedule of all our classes and activities, please visit our home page. If you need further information about any class and activity, please visit each subgroup pages or simply contact our office.
Our History
Chinese Youth League was founded 1 st July 1939. When Japan made a full-scale invasion of China. Patriotic Chinese youth were gather together and form an association to fight the Japanese invader. They perform drama and Cantonese Opera in raising money to help China.
December 1941 when Japan started their Pacific war. Many Chinese seaman were stranded and Chinese from the Pacific islands came to Sydney. CYL help them finding jobs, provide meals and accommodations. In supporting the Australian government’s effort to build landing craft to fight the Japanese invader. CYL organise near 1,000 seamen to Brisbane to help. CYL are very proud for contributing our effort for war effort to achieve peace.
CYL making tremendous effort in fighting the right of Chinese, end the Australia’s “white Australian policy” and get Australian government diplomatically recognise China as well as building a multicultural Australia.
CYL support multi culturalism by participating in the Folkloric Dance competition at the Sydney Opera House from the 70 to 80’s. Organise Chinatown Carnivale as part of the NSW Carnivale 1980’s onward. We produce a dance and song performance based on Chinese contribution to Australia. It was to mark the Australian Bicentenary 1988. It was performed in Sydney Opera House, Brisbane, Melbourne. Moreover, Prime Minister Bob Hawke invited us to perform at the parliament house in welcoming Chinese Premier Mr. Li Peng. Furthermore, it was a great honour for CYL to perform at the Opening Ceremony of Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Our sporting team perform very well in representing CYL, NSW and Australia.
In the 1950’s to 1970’s Table Tennis were our major sport. CYL were a major force in NSW’s tournament, winning many championship and in promoting the Table Tennis sport. Basketball were reorganised in 1973. Participating the Sydney Basketball Association’s C grade and won it. Then promote to B grade and become Runner’s Up. Them promote to A Grade. CYL organise the Chinese community tournament from 1978, where both our men and women team were a strong force in winning many tournaments.
Lion and Dragon Dance. Our troupe work very hard to perform every year at the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival. Participating at local and international Championships. Our Lion team came 3rd place at the first world championship held in Kuala Lumpur 1990.
CYL was one of the first participant and completed in every Sydney Dragon Boat competition since inception 1984. Our team try very hard to be competitive and promoting the sport. Our men’s team won the Australian Championship in 1997 and represent Australia in the world championship. We are very honour to won Bronze medal, the best record that any Australian team ever achieve. Recently, our men’s team perform very well in winning 200 and 500 Australian title.
