(Minghui.org) The Grand Floral Parade, the only one in Australia using fresh flowers, was held on September 22, 2012, in Toowoomba. Falun Gong practitioners were invited to participate for the fourteenth consecutive year and won two awards issued by the city government, the Toowooba Grand Carnival of Flowers Prize and the Band with the Most Carnival Spirit. This annual floral festival took place on September 21-30, the beginning of spring in the southern hemisphere. It has a 63-year history and includes a parade, a flower show, food, music, dancing, family events, movies, etc.

The Falun Gong procession

The Falun Gong entry won two awards in the sixty-third Toowoomba Grand Floral Parade: The Toowooba Grand Carnival of Flowers Prize and The Band with the Most Carnival Spirit.

This year, more than 70 groups participated in the parade. Floats, bands, stilts, and colorful processions gathered in the downtown area. The parade, which started at noon and continued for an hour and a half, began on Herries Street, proceeded down Ruthven Street and Chalk Road, and arrived at Queen Park. VIPs from all walks of life sat on the observation stand in front of city hall. More than 100,000 spectators lined the streets.

The Falun Gong procession was led by the Divine Land Marching Band, followed by an exercise demonstration, the golden dragon dancers, Tang Dynasty costumes, celestial maidens, and a waist drum team. Practitioners carried colorful banners worded, “Falun Dafa Is Good,” and “The World Needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” in both Chinese and English. The whole procession was nearly 100 meters long.

The Divine Land Marching Band was impressive. The band members from Sydney and Melbourne wore blue and white traditional costumes and marched in unison while playing to repeated applause.

Along the way, seven to eight moderators briefed the audience on Falun Dafa and the benefits of the practice. Many shouted, "Falun Dafa is good!"

Chinese businessmen, students, and tourists took photos and video footage of the Falun Gong contingent. Many people expressed interest in Falun Gong. A tourist from the Golden Coast said to a Falun Gong practitioner, "When I saw your procession and the information on the banners, I was stunned. I would like to understand Falun Gong. I must learn Falun Gong."

A local family of five was touched after finding out that the band members from Sydney and Melbourne had driven a long distance that morning. One of them said, "Thank you, thank you very much!" and pressed his hands together in front of his chest in tribute.