Journal of Chinese Australia, Issue 1, May 2005

In this issue

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Journal of Chinese Australia. It is our hope that this journal will provide opportunities for the many people we know interested in Australia's fascinating Chinese-related history to learn more and share what they know with others. This first issue, with a Northern Territory theme, has brought together much excellent research.

In our four articles, Tim Jones tells us about a major figure in Chinese Australian history in the Northern Territory, Ping Que, while Allan O'Neil gives us a detailed description of what Chinese people were doing in the territory in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Paul Jones explores Chinese labour activism in the Northern Territory. Kate Bagnall takes a different tack and speculates on the fate of a group of elderly Chinese men who were repatriated to China in 1914.

We are also pleased to profile research materials to assist further research. Kate Bagnall provides a background history to a significant piece of material history, the Stretton Chinese banner, presented by the Chinese community to the outgoing Darwin's Sub-Collector of Customs in 1913, and Michael Williams gives a short run down of some Territory-related materials to be found in the Queensland State Archives. As a further aid to researchers, Sophie Couchman has provided an overview of the Chinese Heritage of Australian Federation (CHAF) website, a must see for researchers in this area.

This first issue contains a strong commitment to family history and geneaological research which we hope will continue to be a major element of this journals' efforts to encourage future research. Valerie Lee reports on continuing research into the Lee Hang Gong/Sarah Bowman family history. Barbara Nichol and Sophie Couchman have both included appeals for contact. Barbara is interested in getting in touch with people of Chinese descent or their descendants who were in the Chinese-Australian restaurant industry and Sophie with owners of family photographs that include Chinese Australians.

Book reviews by Amanda Rasmussen, on Henry Reynolds, North of Capricorn: The Untold Story of Australia's North and by Michael Williams on The Chinese in the Northern Territory and other works, help to round out our awareness of the state of research on the history of Chinese Australia as it is to be found in the north.

We hope this first issue provides material of interest to readers and stimulates conversation on the issues raised. Discussion, appeals for assistance and questions are all welcomed.

The second issue will focus on the theme of 'processions and rituals' but contributions on any topic are always welcome. We look forward to suggestions and comments, and hope that you the readers will be part of JCA's ongoing development.

The JCA Editors