The younger son
Source: MA,VMR William Ah Ket (1876-1936), lawyer and campaigner for Chinese rights, was born in Wangaratta, Victoria. for its foundation. In 1921, William and Gertrude
ways of thinking, with particular reference to Confucius'. He was a sound lawyer and a good advocate". William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination. Williams, founder of the Spanish Guitar Centre in London,
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. 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. Despite these achievements, William Ah Ket's story is little-known. "[The man was] asking him how the Chinaman liked his cup of tea and really awful things," she says. The Melbourne Chinese Chamber of Commerce asked him to represent Australian Chinese at the opening of the first Chinese Parliament in Beijing in December, 1912 and he was Acting Consul for China in 19131914 and 1917. Williamwas born on June 20 1876, in Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia. William Ah Ket became a leading figure in the Chinese Australian
This article contains content that is not available. William had 4 sisters: Alberta Young (born Ah Ket) and 3 other siblings. "Winning the inaugural William Ah Ket Scholarship brings me great pride and satisfaction, owing to the scholarship's underlying purpose of fostering the development and promotion of cultural diversity in the Australian legal profession. Neither of us will ever be made a judge, you because you are a woman. Ah Kets colleagues remembered him with warmth and affection as an amiable and gregarious man, greatly respected for his ability and integrity. l do mun ln n war phuc william khiu chin v xc phm danh tnh ca tao by gi tao yu cu my k vo y tao i bn ci u ch ca my r i ln ci mt ln ca my. There is, however, evidence that William was resigned to the associated barriers and limitations that his life involved. William Ah Ket fought social prejudice in and out of court. I because I am Chinese. He visited China in 1912-13 as the delegate of the Victorian Chinese Chamber of Commerce to participate in the election of overseas Chinese to the new parliament of the Republic. My research into William Ah commencedKet in October 2019. Sir Robert Menzies practised with William in Selborne Chambers. Association in Australia held at Macquarie University on 5 July 1995. C. F. Yong, The Chinese in New South Wales and Victoria, 1901-1921 (Ph.D. thesis, Australian National University, 1966). In addition to lobbying against discriminatory legislation, such as the Immigration Restriction Bill of 1901, William appeared in many cases that we would describe today as public interest cases. In 191314 and 1917, he acted as Consul-General for China in Melbourne.[1][5]. In 1931, William Ah Ket's dedication to foster increased understanding
This article commemorates the life of William Ah Ket, Australias first barrister of Chinese descent. He went to the bar the following year and is widely understood to have become the first Australian lawyer of Chinese descent to practise as a barrister at the independent bar in Victoria. Chinese called by Dr. Sun Yat Sen to attend the first National
Even though the laws he fought against no longer exist, she says Australia continues to treat new migrant groups with suspicion. He served his articles under Richard Cross of the firm then known as Maddock & Jamieson (now Maddocks) in 1903. Chinese language. William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination. '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. He supported the creation of a committee to
Fast forward 90 years to 9 October 2019 when an audience of some 50 persons are gathered in the Great Hall of the High Court of Australia to attend the third award ceremony for the William Ah Ket Scholarship a scholarship established by the Asian Australian Lawyers Association in 2017 and supported by Maddocks. View their profile including current address, phone number 801-571-XXXX, background check reports, and property record on Whitepages, the most trusted online directory. La Trobe University
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. in the furniture-making trade. Whatever the challenges that William faced during his sixty years, there is no doubt that his life was one of diversity and service. The Australian Dictionary of Biography notes the following in its entry on William Ah Ket: Ah Ket built up a healthy practice at the Victorian Bar, specialising in civil law. the subject of 'Reconciliation between Eastern and Western
for China in Melbourne in 1913-14 and again in 1917. would provide all Australians with a better knowledge of the
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. "He probably would've seen people that were junior to him progress past him in that career and of course that would've been disappointing to see that, and not be afforded the same opportunities as everyone else," he says. a full primary and secondary education in Wangaratta's public
landing at Tarakan. or the editors of the website. of the world's most talented classical guitarists. AUSTRALIA
Sir Robert Menzies wrote that he and Mr Ah Ket "were great friends". 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. That in itself was an "impressive feat", says Reynah Tang, the founding president of the Asian-Australian Lawyers' Association. to learn the cultural traditions of ancient China, and to
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. barrister to practice in Melbourne. There is, however, evidence that William was resigned to the associated barriers and limitations that his life involved. He established a committee to oppose the proposed Immigration Restriction Act and he was also active in the Anti-Opium League of Victoria which attempted to bring about social reform among Chinese in Australia and abroad. The couple had four children William, Stanley, Melaan and Toylaan. in Chisholm Street. It also discusses the importance of cultural diversity in the workplace and within the community, particularly during a time when racism has become more prominent since COVID-19. His father Mah Ket had arrived in Australia in the 1850s, during the gold rush era, and his mother in the 1860s. In a passage that is still recognised as current law in Australia, Justice OConnor stated as follow: It isimprobable that the legislature would overthrow fundamental principles, infringe rights, or depart from the general system of law, without expressing its intention with irresistible clearness13. theatre-goers during the "Gay 20s" before the Depression. 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! Each data center building is the size of a modern day aircraft carrier, nearly four football fields long. William Marc AH-KETwas born in month1914, at birth place, to William AH-KETand Gertrude Victoria AH-KET (born BULLOCK). 5 Law Students Society Dinner to Sir Harrison Moore, Farrago 5(5), April 23, 1929. I am proud to have been part of this fantastic initiative. Toylaan Margaret Allen,his last surviving child, passed away in New South Wales on 16th July 2015. Chinese people. Defend yourself nobly but always in a dignified fashion.". 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. K Tn : Cuong. The rise of China has everyone talking. All rights reserved. Occasionally their
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. William Ah Ket was educated at Wangaratta High School and was also taught at home by a Chinese tutor. [4], Despite, or perhaps because of, having himself been discriminated against, Mr Ah Ket devoted his life to fighting against unfair discrimination. [3] He was neither appointed Silk nor a judge. William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination and appeared in many 'public interest' cases. William Ah Ket [] was born in Wangaratta in the state of Victoria, Australia, in 1876. Tel: +61 3 9479 1315
a story that is It's well worth telling and I feel privileged to be able to participate in that story-telling. 10William Ah Ket Scholarship 2019, Program (9 October 2019). at Saturday's race-meetings in Melbourne, never missing his
The toast was proposed by Charles Lowe (later Sir Charles Lowe), then a justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria and subsequently Chancellor of Melbourne University between 1941 and 1954, and was also supported by Justice Owen Dixon of the High Court and Professor Kenneth Bailey, then Dean of Melbourne Law School.5 Interestingly, William had appeared in cases as senior to Lowe and as junior to Dixon before they were elevated to the bench. Three years later, the untimely death of William Ah Ket brought
William Ah Ket was Australia's first Chinese Australian lawyer and, later, acting consul-general for China in Australia. William Ah Ket - A Life of Diversity and Service Andrew Godwin* 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. 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. ( 5 ), April 23, 1929 his articles under Richard Cross of the firm known... Gertrude ways of thinking, with particular reference to Confucius ' out of court, (! As an amiable and gregarious man, greatly respected for his ability and.. ( 5 ), April 23, 1929 4 sisters: Alberta (! 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