MELBOURNE, Australia—An estimated 700 Australians gathered to form the words: “Falun Dafa Is Good” in a large aerial formation to raise awareness of the spiritual practice among locals.
The event took place on Oct. 24 at Alexandra Gardens, near Melbourne’s Arts Precinct and the iconic Flinders Street Station.
Wearing bright yellow, Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) practitioners entered the park and took their designated positions to form a message they hope can resonate across the country.
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Peter Jose, a former Qantas captain with 25 years of flying experience who now works as a drone filmmaker, was commissioned to film the event.
“When I was first here, I didn’t quite understand [things] until I was explained [about] organ harvesting and what they [practitioners] go through,” he told The Epoch Times.
“Being an Australian, a Melbourne person, it was an eye opener and very emotional for me when I found out [about the persecution].”
Drone filmmaker Peter Jose films the character formation in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 24, 2026. (NTD)Jose also called the experience “surreal.”
“It’s very surreal. I think not many people understand what is going on, and I think we need to portray that. We need to get it out there to show what they’re actually going through,” he said.
“The emotions, when I saw it, I just thought it was incredible.”
Falun Dafa practitioners form the words “Falun Dafa Is Good” in English at Alexandra Gardens in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 24, 2026. (Grace Yu/The Epoch Times)An Annual Event to Raise Awareness
The character formation is part of an annual series of events aimed at introducing Falun Dafa to the public and raising awareness of the ongoing persecution launched by the Chinese Communist Party.
Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is a spiritual meditation practice rooted in the Chinese traditions of Buddhism and Taoism.
Falun Dafa practitioners form the words “Falun Dafa Is Good” in English at Alexandra Gardens in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 24, 2026. (Tien Nguyen/The Epoch Times)
Falun Dafa practitioners form the words “Falun Dafa Is Good” in English at Alexandra Gardens in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 24, 2026. (Tien Nguyen/The Epoch Times)
It comprises five sets of meditation exercises and moral teachings centred on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.
After its introduction in 1992, Falun Dafa quickly gained popularity across China via word of mouth and by 1999, between 70 million and 100 million people practised Falun Gong in the country.
Yet in 1999, then-CCP leader Jiang Zemin launched the persecution against adherents resulting in thousands being arbitrarily detained, tortured, or put to death.
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Consultant Coen De Vuijst and his wife, Barbara De Vuijst, were passing by and were drawn to the event.
“We were very curious and thought they were filming a movie, so we went to ask. Later, someone explained the event to us,” Coen De Vuijst said.
“I felt that their group had a very strong sense of cohesion.”
The couple resonated with Falun Dafa’s three main principles with Coen De Vuijst saying society “desperately needs these values.”
Consultant Coen De Vuijst and his wife, Barbara, watch a Falun Dafa character formation in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 24, 2026. (NTD)
