Discussion

The Journal of Chinese Australia (JCA) aims to provide a forum for discussion by those interested in the field of Chinese Australian studies. We welcome comments and questions which relate both to particular articles and to the broad themes of the journal.

We have provided a link at the bottom of each article which allows you to respond directly. You must include your name and contact information if you would like us to publish your comment. Information on how we will use this information can be found on the Contact us page. Your response will be mediated by the JCA editorial committee and may then be made available for general perusal under the article concerned. General comments will be published here.

We hope that you will take the opportunity to offer constructive comments, to raise questions and to participate in the discussion.

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7 January 2009

My mother was born in Wandiligong and her family name was Kaighin, descendants of the Kaighins from the Isle of Man who came to Australia in the 1850's. . She lived there until her later teen years when she went to Melbourne for study and employment. My maternal grandfather was Christian Lund, a Danish seaman on the Royal Danish Vessel 'Waldemar' who illegally left his ship in the 1850's and went to the Bright area of Victoria where he married, and one of his daughters married into the family of Kaighins who settled the area as gold-miners and builders. There are still historical buildings in the area built by the Kaighins. (Family history shows that my ancestor Lund was named in a Victorian police gazette at that time as being an illegal immigrant.)

The reason for this query is that, according to family history, one of my Kaighin forebears also protected the Chinese, who hid in his house, in cupboards, and under beds whilst he armed himself and prevented anyone entering.

I wondered whether you have any record of the Kaighin's in this regard. According to my mother, some subsequent generations of Chinese descendants visited a Kaighin grave in some sort of homage. I wondered whether this was a piece of fanciful family history or whether this is on record somewhere. My mother repeated the story to us when we were children and we accepted it as fact.

I would be grateful if you had any information that mention either the Lunds or the Kaighins.

Milton Moon

6 November 2008

I only recently read a copy of Drew Cottle and Angela Keys article 'Building the bridge of solidarity' in Issue No 2 October 2006. I am very interested in the questions raised in the article. I knew Arthur Locke Chang (I knew him then as Arthur Locke). I was one of the participants in a 'Victory Girl 'competition organised by the Queensland Trades & Labour Council in 1944 or raise money for the Patriotic Fund with the object of buying and sending books to the soldiers in New Guinea and Pacific region. I represented the Waterside Workers' Union and I took second play to the girl who won. She was MISS WONG HONG CHOY who was the representative of the Chinese Seamen's Union and the Chinese Community.

Connie Healy

15 June 2008 (corrections added 15 July 2009)

I have just been reading with some interest the page on 'Decoding historical scripts in Chinese: The Tasmanian Chungs from Xinhui'.

I have been trying to research my great grandfather who was listed as Charles Wah Sin (married to Mary Munting) at the Baptist Chruch, York Street, Launceston on 5 May 1879. It lists Wah Sin as a miner aged 34 years from Peking and Mary Munting as 21 years and a tailor's daughter. Withnesses were Tom and Eliza Sing and James Thomas Munting. On her death certificate, deated 13 May 1903, at the New Norfolk Hospital she is listed as mary Wah SING (rather than SIN).

Charles and Mary had three daughters - Peggie (or Florrie), Mary and May (they may have become nurses). She may also have had a fouth child, Francis born 12 october 1890 in Beaconsfield.

My understanding is that my great grandmother, Mary had a nervous breakdown and was put into an asylum in Launceston sometime between 1890 and 1910. In seems that at this time Charles put their children into a convent in Launceston where they stayed for several years

As Wah Sing is most likely a Chinese given name I'm having difficulty moving forward with my research. I wonder if anyone can assist with any further leads.

Allan Kemp

Family genealogist

4 February 2008

Hello, I am very interested in your article about the Chinese in Tasmania. My Great Grandfather is the "unknown Chung" married to Kim Wing my Great Great Grandmother in your published table of Tasmanian Chungs.

According to his will Chin Ah Chung was born in 1867 in Dajiang, Toisan, Guangdon Province Canton, China. He arrived in Tasmania in 25th July 1883 with the aid of Family members in Hong Kong. He apparently snuck on board a ship not knowing where in Australia he would end up. He arrived not being able to speak English and not being able to say his name so the authorities called him Ah Chung. 

He married Kim Wing in 1893 but no record of this can be found of the marriage in Australia so I assume he may have gone back to China. My Great Grandfather was friends with the Chung Gon Family and I believe Chung Sing as My Great Aunt mentions Mrs Sing and Elsie Sing in her teenage diary in 1916. She also mentions her cousin in Launceston but I am not sure who she is referring to.

Chin Ah Chung became a  Cabinet Maker and General Dealer at 95 Bathurst Street Hobart. He died in 1908 and is buried in Cornelian Bay Cemetery Hobart.

Part of his grave stone is written in Chinese but I don't understand what is says. I do have a photo of the stone. The Family changed the surname to Chen some time after his death when his last son who had returned to Hong Kong and to the village of my Great Great Grandfather  discovered the Families true name.

Rebecca Chen

Family genealogist

5 November 2006

We just read Cora's article in the latest edition of the JCA. It demonstrates the importance of the Chinese in the development of the North-east. Also, we have already had a comment about the Beechworth Chinese Cultural Centre's contribution to JCA which was well received. You have done a wonderful job with JCA. Keep it up!

John Osmond

Beechworth Chinese Cultural Centre.

17 October 2006

This morning I discovered that my great great great grandmother Anne Maria Gunn married a Chinese man from Canton. She arrived in Australia from England in January 1857 and married Ah Luk in July of the same year, aged 17 years. They had four children that I was able to quickly track, though their surname changed to Ah Luke. After trying to research information on how people treated Chinese/English marriages I found your website really interesting.  I'm still curious about this, but was happy to read that there was some tolerance, although I'm sure racism would have reared its ugly head quite often .  After reading so many historical novels I had visions of being spat on etc.

Michelle

Family geneaologist

29 May 2005

Congratulations on your new venture publishing the Journal of Chinese Australia and making it so free and easily available. Just what was needed. I have told a few people about it already.

Carol Holsworth

Volunteer, Golden Dragon Museum, Bendigo

20 May 2005

Congratulations to the Editorial committee for their foresight - a
much needed contribution to a growing area of study and the 'delivery platform' is great. Add us to your list of readers.

Dot & Stan Hoy

16 May 2005

Congratulations on this wonderful and very useful journal. I'm looking forward to reading the articles. This is a great forum for the many people who are researching Chinese Australian history and who would like to disseminate their ideas and communicate with others.

Helen Fong

Independent researcher