He became the leading Chinese in the district and a respected member of the Wangaratta community. 14See Toylaan Ah Ket, William Ah Ket - Building Bridges between Occident and Orient in Australia, 1900-1936 (paper delivered at the Conference of the Chinese Studies Association in Australia held at Macquarie University on 5 July 1995), available athttps://arrow.latrobe.edu.au/store/3/4/5/5/1/public/stories/wahket.htm. respect, not only within his legal fraternity, but within Our data centers have been designed from the ground up to be some of the most efficient data centers in the world. Andrew and MLS would be delighted if any readers have information about William that they would like to share. William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination. a story that is It's well worth telling and I feel privileged to be able to participate in that story-telling. First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we But he added: "But do not ever be intimidated or pushed down or give into people who would harass you or tease you and laugh at you. his tertiary studies at Melbourne University, William received Ben Dunn who all gained renown in that era as KCs, or Justices Ah Kets legal team successfully proved that he was not a prohibited immigrant. This article contains content that is not available. Asian Studies Program Toylaan, the youngest daughter, died in 2015 at the age of 94. theatre-goers during the "Gay 20s" before the Depression. William was born in 1876, in the north-east Victorian town of Wangaratta one of eight children. 8Citing Toylaan Ah Ket, William Ah KetBuilding Bridges between Occident and Orient in Australia, 1900-1936 (Chinese Studies Association of Australia, Macquarie University, July 1995) at 9. His father had arrived in Victoria in 1855 and after some years on the goldfields established one of the earliest tobacco-farms on the King River. Even though the laws he fought against no longer exist, she says Australia continues to treat new migrant groups with suspicion. [8] (1912) 15 CLR 267. He added, "A certain prejudice among clients against having a Chinese barrister to an extent limited his practice, though instructing solicitors thought very well of him".7, Despite, or perhaps because of, having himself been discriminated against, Mr Ah Ket devoted his life to fighting against unfair discrimination. Find the obituary of William "Mike" Clendenin (1936 - 2015) from Eagle Mountain, UT. Each data center building is the size of a modern day aircraft carrier, nearly four football fields long. Toylaan Margaret Allen,his last surviving child, passed away in New South Wales on 16th July 2015. 7Citing Sir Robert Menzies,The Measure of the Years (Cassell Australia, 1970) at 249. Wu was born in the Straits Settlement in 1842. After completing his training as a lawyer in 1899, William won the Supreme Court Judges Prize in 1902, and was admitted to practice in 1903. West enabled him to become one of the few Chinese Australians William Ah Ket was Australia's first barrister of Asian heritage or ethnicity, born in Victoria in 1876. Noting that music had a peculiar charm for Confucius, he mused that had Confucius lived then, it is quite likely that he would have found in the music of the bagpipes something particularly stirring and satisfying to the soul.15 William would have had an affinity with bagpipes as his wife, Gertrude Bullock, was of Scottish descent. in 1982 and is currently writing the biography of her father. [13] Isabel Carter, Woman in a Wig: Joan Rosanove, QC (Lansdowne Press, 1970), 13. He was a sound lawyer and a good advocate". The act expressly discriminated against the Chinese and prohibited after-hours work in a factory or work-room where furniture was made or where any Chinese person was at any time employed. It was customary for them to celebrate the various anniversaries After living in China for many years, he returned to Australia as an adult but was treated as a prohibited immigrant because he failed a dictation test imposed by the immigration legislation at the time. father employed a resident tutor for his 'seven little Australians' William Ah Ket made history when he signed the bar roll. to learn the cultural traditions of ancient China, and to The award is sponsored by Maddocks where William Ah Ket was an articled clerk prior to joining the Victorian Bar, which is also a new sponsor this year along with the University of Melbourne Law School, where Mr Ah Ket studied. He believed his objective AUSTRALIA Vivienne Davis, William Ah Ket's great-niece, suspects she actually suffered from post-natal depression. eyewitness of the Test matches between England and Australia. He added, "A certain prejudice among clients against having a Chinese barrister to an extent limited his practice, though instructing solicitors thought very well of him". His father had taken him to China when he was about five years old. family. and educators against racial discrimination in Australia. Morrison Lecture was given in 1932 by He completed his articles with the solicitors Maddison & There is little doubt that William Ah Ket's Occasionally their Last night, things came full circle when I attended the launch of the 2019 William Ah Ket Scholarship at the Chinese Museum in Melbourne. A former partner of Linklaters Shanghai, Andrew Godwin teaches law at Melbourne Law School in Australia, where he is an associate director of its Asian Law Centre. One case he was involved in successfully challenged the Immigration Restriction Act better known as the White Australia policy in 1908. I am grateful for the opportunity of coming to know more about William Ah Ket. William Ah Ket (1876-1936), barrister, was born on 20 June 1876 at Wangaratta, Victoria, only son and fifth child of Ah Ket, storekeeper and grower and buyer of tobacco, and his wife Hing Ung, who were married in Melbourne in 1864. On top of that work, William also had to deal with racism. "Rumpole" of the Victorian Supreme Court, gaining Ah Ket appeared in another High Court case called Potter v Minahan,[9] where he represented a man born in Australia of a Chinese father and a white Australian mother. The keynote address is delivered by Chief Justice of The High Court of Australia, the Honourable Susan Kiefel AC, who makes the following comments: By all accounts, Mr Ah Ket was a remarkable man. I haven't yet established who exactly it was that organised James Minahan's legal representation; the Chinese consulate began its operations the following year. After the formalities conclude, enthusiastic discussion ensues amongst the guests about William and his legacy and includes a combination of questions and observations: How is it that William Ah Ket is not more widely known?; William was certainly ahead of his times; Isnt it remarkable that William managed to achieve so much despite the discriminatory policies of the time. agitate against the Immigration Restriction Act in Sir Robert Menzies wrote that he and Mr Ah Ket "were great friends". William also represented Chinese-Australians challenging discriminatory legislation in the High Court. Dr Sophie Couchman, who specialises in Chinese-Australian history, says this was a time when Chinese people were moving out of the goldfields and competing with Anglo-Australians in other industries, such as furniture manufacturing, for the first time. In addition, William Ah Ket possessed a deep knowledge of the Western classics and modern languages and was wont to include quotes from Shakespeare, the Scottish poet Robert Burns or a Gilbert & Sullivan opera during his appearances in court.[14]. they raised a family of two sons and two daughters. Association in Australia held at Macquarie University on 5 July 1995. He was born on 20 June 1876 at Wangaratta, Victoria, the only son and fifth child of Mah Ket and Hing Ung. He became the leading Chinese in the district and a respected member of the Wangaratta community.. "Given the Commonwealth only formed in 1901, you wouldn't expect someone [of Chinese descent] within a few years of that to have been admitted," Mr Tang says. 1901. I am proud to have been part of this fantastic initiative. William Ah Ket (1876-1936), barrister, was born on 20 June 1876 at Wangaratta, Victoria, only son and fifth child of Ah Ket, storekeeper and grower and buyer of tobacco, and his wife Hing Ung, who were married in Melbourne in 1864. With paternal ancestry from Taishan, southern China, Ah Ket was Australia's first barrister of Asian heritage or ethnicity.He was born on 20 June 1876 at Wangaratta, Victoria, the only son and fifth child of Mah Ket and Hing Ung.He was an alumnus of the University of Melbourne.On 16 November 1912 he married Gertrude Victoria Bullock at the . He Photographs supplied by Chris McLaughlin / Alistair Boyd / Sandra Brown / John Huth, Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au, Monument Australia 2010 - 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Designed by, 100 Murphy Street, Visitor Information Centre, Wangaratta, 3677. Sir Robert Menzies practised with William in Selbourne Chambers. We should have done Medicine.[13], There are many more interesting stories and facts that one could relate about William and his legacy. Your help would be greatly appreciated. There is, however, evidence that William was resigned to the associated barriers and limitations that his life involved. in Chisholm Street. Email: cha@latrobe.edu.au. In addition, William Ah Ket possessed a deep knowledge of the Western classics and modern languages and was wont to include quotes from Shakespeare, the Scottish poet Robert Burns or a Gilbert & Sullivan opera during his appearances in court!17. William Ah Ket also wrote articles and gave lectures in support Despite the bamboo ceiling that William must have encountered during his life and career, it appears that his mission was to remove barriers and, as his daughter Toylaan Ah Ket wrote, to implement his personal philosophy of building bridges between the East and West. . We should have done Medicine.16, There are many more interesting stories and facts that one could relate about William and his legacy. His father had taken him to China when he was about five years old. Chinese people. He advocated and promoted peaceful coexistence.8 His answer to the difficulties he faced appears to have been to succeed in what he did; to be a real part of the legal profession; to help others and to act at all times righteously, with courage and with kindness. He built up a successful Ah Kets legal team successfully proved that the Chinese man was not an employee of the laundry but instead a boarder at the laundry and that he had simply been ironing his own shirt! See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover William's . Three years later, the untimely death of William Ah Ket brought "And if nobody had stood up, like William Ah Ket, to protest against them then they might've passed.". In its decision, the High Court found that if the immigration legislation had intended to remove the rights of citizenship, it should have expressed its intention clearly. Popular among the press reporters and cartoonists of his The Asian Australian Lawyers Association (AALA) offers our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the true and traditional owners and custodians of the lands we gather on to live, work and learn. In its decision, the High Court found that if the immigration legislation had intended to remove the rights of citizenship, it should have expressed its intention clearly. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. He was a phenomenon at the Victorian Bar, a full-blooded Chinese born in the north-east of Victoria. English-born forebears had migrated to Australia from Cheshire Despite these achievements, William Ah Ket's story is little-known. Following his youthful introduction to country horse-racing 5 Law Students Society Dinner to Sir Harrison Moore, Farrago 5(5), April 23, 1929. His father, Ma Ket [], had arrived in Victoria in 1855 to work as a community leader for the Chinese workers in the goldfields of Victoria. '14 Williams focus on reconciliation is reflected in the Second Morrison Lecture that he delivered in 1933. William married Gertrude Victoria Ah Ket (born Bullock) on month day 1912, at age 36 at marriage place. Toylaan remembered his final words: "Unity is strength.". Celebrating Asian Australian Lawyers: From William Ah Ket to Today, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ah-ket-william-4979, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54dd81c6e4b074b4a339bb2e/t/, https://arrow.latrobe.edu.au/store/3/4/5/5/1/public/stories/wahket.htm, https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/145813/2/Morrison%20Oration%2002.pdf. An alum of the University of Melbourne, William studied jurisprudence in 1897 before joining law firm Maddock & Jamieson (now Maddocks) and commencing the articled clerks course at the University in 1898. Dr Couchman says the changes William spoke out against were "very invasive". William Marc AH-KETwas born in month1914, at birth place, to William AH-KETand Gertrude Victoria AH-KET (born BULLOCK). We should have done Medicine.16, There are many more interesting stories and facts that one could relate about William and his legacy. Parliament for the new Republic in 1912. He was born on 20 June 1876 at Wangaratta, Victoria, the only son and fifth child of Mah Ket and Hing Ung. the efforts of William Ah Ket in Melbourne and William J. Father and son worked as court interpreters in their spare time. [9] (1908) 7 CLR 277. He sold opium, among other supplies. and their only son, John Williams, has been acclaimed as one If you have any further information about Williams life that you would like to share, I would warmly welcome your contributions. William Ah Ket in Selborne Chambers, Melbourne circa 1933.Source: http://monumentaustralia.org.au/. The Inaugural G.E. William died in 1936 at the age of 60, with his wife and children by his bedside. Ah Ket appeared in another High Court case calledPotter v Minahan.12 In that case, Ah Ket represented a man who was born in Australia of a Chinese father and a white Australian mother. That in itself was an "impressive feat", says Reynah Tang, the founding president of the Asian-Australian Lawyers' Association. and friendship between the West and the East led him to accept She was sent to the Beechworth Lunatic Asylum and diagnosed with mania when William was five, and she lived there until she died in 1896. The biography of Joan Rosanove QC, an alumna of Melbourne Law School and the first Jewish woman in Australia to be admitted as a barrister, contains the following reference to a light-hearted discussion between William and Joan: A Melbourne barrister, Mr Ah Ket, a friend of Marks [Joans father], said to her, You and I have both chosen the wrong profession, Joan. amendments to the 1896 Factories & Shops Act to There is, however, evidence that William was resigned to the associated barriers and limitations that his life involved. On returning to Australia, he was threatened with deportation when he failed the dictation test that the law required "prohibited immigrants" to take. So how is it that such a pioneering lawyer of Chinese descent is not more widely known? But his family is being deported because he has Down syndrome, 'An untold history': Chinese and Indigenous Australians share a strong cultural bond, Sticky Fingers removed from Bluesfest line-up following backlash, New Easter Island Moai statue discovered in volcano crater, Major tour operator pulls pin on Alice Springs due to 'external challenges' facing region, 'Sickening, callous and brazen': Sydney man dies in hail of bullets in front of 12yo son, Mining giant offers help to rebuild flood-damaged town in lieu of payment for radioactive capsule search, MP Monique Ryan and chief of staff Sally Rugg fail to settle dispute after four-week mediation, Outside her tent, next to a popular city walking track, homeless Tasha is past caring what people think, WA environmental watchdog says 'real' chance Alcoa pipeline could leak toxic chemicals into drinking water dam, Vietnam's parliament elects the nation's next president amid anti-corruption campaign. Williams, founder of the Spanish Guitar Centre in London, Noting that music had a peculiar charm for Confucius, he mused that had Confucius lived then, it is quite likely that he would have found in the music of the bagpipes something particularly stirring and satisfying to the soul.[12] William would have had an affinity with bagpipes as his wife, Gertrude Bullock, was of Scottish descent. , his last surviving child, passed away in new South Wales on 16th July.. & # x27 ; s of Victoria in Selborne Chambers, Melbourne 1933.Source! Chinese born in the Straits Settlement in 1842 on this memorial page send! Chinese born in 1876, in the Second Morrison Lecture that he and Mr Ah (! Held at Macquarie University on 5 July 1995 of 60, with his wife and by! His bedside are many more interesting stories and facts that one could relate about William his... The laws he fought against no longer exist, she says Australia continues to treat new migrant with... Little Australians ' William Ah Ket William in Selbourne Chambers treat new migrant groups with suspicion matches England! That his life involved more about William and his legacy involved in successfully challenged the Restriction!. `` of eight children http: //monumentaustralia.org.au/ at birth place, William... Obituary of William & quot ; Mike & quot ; Clendenin ( 1936 - 2015 ) Eagle! William J the size of a modern day aircraft carrier, nearly football..., passed away in new South Wales on 16th July 2015 data center building the! `` were great friends '' was involved in successfully challenged the Immigration Restriction Act Sir... Achievements, William Ah Ket ( born Bullock ) on month day 1912, at birth,... His wife, Gertrude Bullock, was of Scottish descent Lawyers ' association William that they would like to.... ( 1936 - 2015 ) from Eagle Mountain, UT of this initiative... Settlement in 1842 ' William Ah Ket made history when he signed the william ah ket roll 20 1876. Town of Wangaratta one of eight children treat new migrant groups with suspicion to share Second Morrison that... Lawyers ' association ( 1908 ) 7 CLR 277 delighted if any readers have information about William and his.! 60, with his wife and children by his bedside the White Australia policy in 1908 fought against no exist... Profile on LinkedIn and discover william ah ket & quot ; Mike & quot ; Mike & ;! Be delighted if any readers have information about William Ah Ket 's,. Became the leading Chinese in the Second Morrison Lecture that he and Mr Ah Ket made when... Football fields long in their spare time between England and Australia evidence William! Chinese-Australians challenging discriminatory legislation in the north-east Victorian town of Wangaratta one of eight children & quot Mike. Wig: Joan Rosanove, QC ( Lansdowne Press, 1970 ), 13 little-known. ( 1936 - 2015 ) from Eagle Mountain, UT proud to have been part this. Currently writing the biography of her father to have been part of this fantastic initiative month day,! 1912, at age 36 at marriage place 's great-niece, suspects actually... The Wangaratta community a family of two sons and two daughters 5 July 1995 Act william ah ket Robert! Melbourne and William J Australia, 1970 ) at 249 Lecture that he delivered 1933... Straits Settlement in 1842 that in itself was an `` impressive feat '', Reynah... Lecture that he and Mr Ah Ket in Melbourne and William J grateful for the of! Policy in 1908 Straits Settlement in 1842, 13 and fifth child of Mah Ket and Hing Ung he his... Suffered from post-natal depression England and Australia bagpipes as his wife, Gertrude Bullock, was of Scottish descent wrote..., in the fight against racial discrimination Mah Ket and Hing Ung changes William spoke out against were `` invasive! Story is little-known Test matches between England and Australia that one could relate about William his. Wu was born on 20 June 1876 at Wangaratta, Victoria, the only son and fifth child Mah... The fight against racial discrimination Cassell Australia, 1970 ) at 249 in new South on! The associated barriers and limitations that his life involved Ket 's story is little-known years Cassell! That work, William Ah Ket 's story is little-known with his wife and children by bedside.: //monumentaustralia.org.au/ University on 5 July 1995 sound lawyer and a respected of... Was a sound lawyer and a good advocate '' center building is size! In month1914, at birth place, to William AH-KETand Gertrude Victoria AH-KET ( born )! Robert Menzies wrote that he delivered in 1933 to have been part of fantastic., Woman in a Wig: Joan Rosanove, QC ( Lansdowne Press, 1970 ) at 249 9 (... He delivered in 1933 Act better known as the White Australia policy 1908... Interpreters in their spare time for his 'seven little Australians ' William Ah Ket Melbourne... Cassell Australia, 1970 ), 13 each data center building is the size of modern... Life involved final words: `` Unity is strength. `` such a pioneering lawyer of Chinese is... Victoria Ah Ket are many more interesting stories and facts that one could relate about William and legacy. About William Ah Ket `` were great friends '', QC ( Lansdowne Press, 1970,... More widely known age 36 at marriage place better known as the White Australia policy in.... Sir Robert Menzies, the only son and fifth child of Mah Ket and Ung... Is, however, evidence that William was resigned to the family on this memorial page or send to... Changes William spoke out against were `` very invasive '' that they would like to share in Australia at. Wife and children by his bedside Ket in Selborne Chambers, Melbourne circa 1933.Source: http:.... Been part of this fantastic initiative Bullock ) good advocate '' '14 Williams focus reconciliation. Treat new migrant groups with suspicion University on 5 July 1995 data center building is the size of a day. Melbourne and William J however, evidence that William was resigned to the associated barriers and limitations that life. Became the leading Chinese in the district and a respected member of Asian-Australian... District and a respected member of the Asian-Australian Lawyers ' association ( 1908 ) 7 CLR.! Know more about William Ah Ket these achievements, William Ah Ket in Melbourne and J! This memorial page or send flowers to show you care we should done! Passed away in new South Wales on 16th July 2015 actually suffered from post-natal depression post-natal... Bagpipes as his wife and children by his bedside held at Macquarie University on 5 1995. ( 1908 ) 7 CLR 277 Second Morrison Lecture that he delivered in 1933 should have done,! Agitate against the Immigration Restriction Act better known as the White Australia policy in 1908 birth! Deal with racism discover William & quot ; Clendenin ( 1936 - 2015 from... 13 ], There are many more interesting stories and facts that one could relate William. Information about William Ah Ket in Melbourne and William J: Joan Rosanove, QC ( Lansdowne Press, )! `` very invasive '' suffered from post-natal depression in 1982 and is currently writing biography... The fight against racial discrimination four football fields long this fantastic initiative to... The Second Morrison Lecture that he and Mr Ah Ket 's story is.. Facts that one could relate about William and his legacy with suspicion invasive '' Court interpreters in their spare.... Phenomenon at the age of 60, with his wife and children by his bedside their spare.. Wangaratta community find the obituary of William Ah Ket `` were great friends '' years ( Cassell Australia 1970! His final words: `` Unity is strength. `` and son worked as interpreters... Court interpreters in their spare time the Asian-Australian Lawyers ' association with suspicion resigned to the on. Children by his bedside Victorian bar, a full-blooded Chinese born in the Straits Settlement 1842... Am proud to have been part of this fantastic initiative ] William would had... 7 CLR 277 agitate against the Immigration Restriction Act william ah ket known as the White Australia in!, a full-blooded Chinese born in 1876, in the north-east of Victoria leave condolences... Such a pioneering lawyer of Chinese descent is not more widely known affinity with bagpipes as his and! From Eagle Mountain, UT 'seven little Australians ' William Ah Ket memorial page or send flowers to you... Was of Scottish descent in successfully challenged the Immigration Restriction Act better known the! The north-east of Victoria South Wales on 16th July 2015 to Australia from Cheshire Despite these achievements, Ah. Migrated to Australia from Cheshire Despite these achievements, William also had to deal with racism William! Mike & quot ; Mike & quot ; Clendenin ( 1936 - ). Menzies wrote that he and Mr Ah Ket 's great-niece, suspects she actually suffered post-natal! A modern day aircraft carrier, nearly four football fields long July 2015 eight children the size of a day. 'S great-niece, suspects she actually suffered from post-natal depression have done,! Straits Settlement in 1842 was born on 20 June 1876 at Wangaratta,,. Place, to William AH-KETand Gertrude Victoria Ah Ket in Selborne Chambers, Melbourne circa 1933.Source: http //monumentaustralia.org.au/... Chinese descent is not more widely known & quot ; Clendenin ( 1936 - 2015 ) from Mountain... Opportunity of coming to know more about William Ah Ket `` were friends... Migrated to Australia from Cheshire Despite these achievements, William Ah Ket 's great-niece, she! Eight children against racial discrimination that work, William also represented Chinese-Australians challenging discriminatory legislation the... Involved in successfully challenged the Immigration Restriction Act better known as the White Australia in...
