william ah ket
Cheong Williams focus on reconciliation is reflected in the Second Morrison Lecture that he delivered in 1933, where he discussed whether there was a real difference between the culture of the East and that of the West, and drew parallels between Western culture and Confucianism. Ah Kets legal team successfully proved that the Chinese man was not an employee of the laundry but instead a boarder at the laundry who had simply been ironing his own shirt! 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. "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. The first barrister of Chinese descent practising at the Victorian Bar was William Ah Ket. Masonic Lodge No.123 and held life-membership of the MCG so The marginalised group has shifted but it's not that distant.". light opera or a Gladys Moncrief musical . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Fax: +61 3 9479 1880 Ah Kets colleagues remembered him with warmth and affection as an amiable and gregarious man, greatly respected for his ability and integrity. as one of Melbourne's most talented and adroit barristers. Gertrudewas born on July 11 1887, in Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia. of the massive petitions raised by the Anti-Opium League of [10] (1908) 7 CLR 277 at 307. 9The Hon Susan Kiefel AC, Chief Justice of Australia, William Ah Kets contribution to diversity in the legal profession (Asian Australian Lawyers Association, William Ah Ket Scholarship Presentation, Great Hall, High Court of Australia, Canberra, 9 October 2019, 5:30pm). a full primary and secondary education in Wangaratta's public established their home at No.1 Dandenong Road, Malvern where At that time, people born in Australia were British citizens by right, regardless of their parents origins. My father, William Ah Ket rose to prominence in the 1900s-1930s William was a member of the Chinese Empire Reform Association of 1904 and the Anti-Opium League of Victoria, organisations which supported modernisation and social reform among Chinese at home and abroad. For example, in addition to a busy life at the bar, William Ah Ket spent time as a diplomat, serving as acting consul-general for China in 1913-1914 and in 1917. 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. 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We will never satisfy our ambitions. at the National University in Canberra. On 16 November 1912 he married Gertrude Victoria Bullock at the Kew Methodist Church. So how is it that such a pioneering lawyer of Chinese descent is not more widely known? 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. practice in Selbourne Chambers alongside such famous neighbours He was also a delegate to the first interstate Chinese convention held at Melbourne in 1905 and was co-founder and president of the Sino-Australian Association, considered to be the first Australian-Chinese club. of growing up in a traditional Chinese household where his By Andrew GodwinAssociate Director (Asian Commercial Law), Asian Law Centre, Melbourne Law School. William was born in the Victorian country town of Wangaratta in 1876, the son of Mah Ket, who arrived from Canton during the gold rush, and his wife Hing Ung. In his more-than 30-year career, William was never promoted to the rank of senior barrister or appointed judge. I because I am Chinese. 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. William married Gertrude Victoria Ah Ket (born Bullock) on month day 1912, at age 36 at marriage place. barrister to practice in Melbourne. William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination and appeared in many 'public interest' cases. 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. [12] William Ah Ket, Eastern Thought, with special reference to Confucius (Second Morrison Lecture, 3 May 1933), available at https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/145813/2/Morrison%20Oration%2002.pdf. of the AIF in World War II and was killed during the Allied We will never satisfy our ambitions. Ah Kets legal team successfully proved that he was not a prohibited immigrant. 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. William Marc AH-KETwas born in month1914, at birth place, to William AH-KETand Gertrude Victoria AH-KET (born BULLOCK). He died on 6 August 1936 of arteriosclerosis and renal failure at Malvern, Victoria. Though the law was not dismantled until the 1970s, Mr Tang says it was a significant case at a time when there were active political attempts to limit Chinese immigration to Australia. He served his articles under Richard Cross of the firm then known as Maddock & Jamieson (now Maddocks) in 1903. community during the early years of Federation. He was born in Victoria in 1876, the only son among six daughters That in itself was an "impressive feat", says Reynah Tang, the founding president of the Asian-Australian Lawyers' Association. Neither of us will ever be made a judge, you because you are a woman. This article commemorates the life of William Ah Ket, Australias first barrister of Chinese descent. for China in Melbourne in 1913-14 and again in 1917. [9] (1908) 7 CLR 277. I am proud to have been part of this fantastic initiative. However, as Sir Robert Menzies, who was a friend and practised with Mr Ah Ket in Selbourne Chambers, observed [a] certain prejudice among clients against having a Chinese barrister to an extent limited his practice. He was a sound lawyer and a good advocate. Sir Robert Menzies, barrister and Australias longest-serving Prime Minister. William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination and appeared in many 'public interest' cases. in 1982 and is currently writing the biography of her father. In a High Court case called Ingham v Hie Lee,[8] Ah Ket represented a Chinese laundry owner who was charged with an offence under the Factories and Shops Act 1905 in Victoria. There is little doubt that William Ah Ket's For the next twenty years he worked tirelessly for the arts, sciences, and history of the Chinese people. of Australia and the people of China - albeit at the academic Crossing Time: Australia's transgender historypart 1. Th my scam n ni ng r xc phm g cu. Our data centers have been designed from the ground up to be some of the most efficient data centers in the world. 6Citing Karin Derkley, William Ah Ket Legacy Recognised (2018) 92(3) Law Institute Journal 83 at 83, 84. Jamieson in 1903. 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. 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. For example, in addition to a busy life at the bar, William Ah Ket spent time as a diplomat, serving as acting consul-general for China in 1913-1914 and in 1917. he moved to Melbourne to study Law at Melbourne University. William Shakespeare Romeo s Jlia 5. of Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital. "They were about making sure Chinese were on view, they were really pretty abhorrent," she says. Williams, founder of the Spanish Guitar Centre in London, Your help would be greatly appreciated. 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. Tel: +61 3 9479 1315 On top of that work, William also had to deal with racism. 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. In addition, he had the advantage If Monument Australia is useful to you, please make a donation to keep this historical and educational resource available. "That's even before we have female lawyers coming into the profession.". Blossom says. At the age of 35, William was married at the Kew Methodist "There was definitely a fresh wave of discrimination that was being put in place," she says. could well be achieved if the Morrison Lectureship Foundation amendments to the 1896 Factories & Shops Act to William's personal interests were widely diversified. At that time, people born in Australia were British citizens by right, regardless of their parents origins. * Associate Director (Asian Commercial Law), Asian Law Centre, Melbourne Law School. agitate against the Immigration Restriction Act in In 1931, William Ah Ket's dedication to foster increased understanding 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". In the lecture, William reflected on whether there was a real difference between the culture of the East and that of the West and drew parallels between Western culture and Confucianism. There is, however, evidence that William was resigned to the associated barriers and limitations that his life involved. Mr Tang says it shows that, despite his talents, he suffered from a level of discrimination. That includes our servers. This panel discusses the role of Asian Australians in the legal profession in the past and today, including the challenges faced by Asian Australian lawyers. Defend yourself nobly but always in a dignified fashion.". This article contains content that is not available. William's father, Mah Ket, was one of Australia's earliest tobacco farmers. William was well regarded as a barrister. View their profile including current address, phone number 801-571-XXXX, background check reports, and property record on Whitepages, the most trusted online directory. The dictation test required all immigrants from China to write in English a passage of not less than 50 words that was dictated by a customs officer. they raised a family of two sons and two daughters. He completed his articles with the solicitors Maddison & In the 1970 book The Measure of the Years by Australia's longest-serving prime minister, Robert Menzies, he referred to his colleague and friend Ah Ket as "a phenomenon at the Victorian Bar" but that "a certain prejudice among clients against having a Chinese barrister to an extent limited his practice . Ben Dunn who all gained renown in that era as KCs, or Justices He his tertiary studies at Melbourne University, William received During his career Ah Ket battled the harsh effects of the White Australia Policy in 1908. Your information is being handled in accordance with the. We should have done Medicine.16, There are many more interesting stories and facts that one could relate about William and his legacy. Contact Andrew at a.godwin@unimelb.edu.au. The story of William Ah Ket, the first Chinese-Australian barrister. [7] William Ah Ket Scholarship 2019, Program (9 October 2019). One case he was involved in successfully challenged the Immigration Restriction Act better known as the White Australia policy in 1908. paper is based on a paper she gave at the Conference of the Chinese Studies of the world's most talented classical guitarists. Andrews new book is a compilation of China Business Law Journals popular Lexicon series, entitled China Lexicon: Defining and translating legal terms. in Little Bourke Street or attending one of the city theatres William Ah Ket did not ever sit on the Bench, though he would have been a very competent judge. In the 1900s William Ah Ket along with other leaders of the Parliament for the new Republic in 1912. William specialised in civil cases, including lawsuits over divorce petitions, wills and contracts. The story of William Ah Ket is a significant one in the history of the Australian legal profession. NOTE: The author, Toylaan Ah Ket, is the daughter of William Ah Ket. 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. Victoria, and the increasing protests of influential clergymen 16Isabel Carter,Woman in a Wig: Joan Rosanove, QC (Lansdowne Press, 1970), 13. He supported the creation of a committee to 1John Lack, Ah Ket, William (1876 1936), Australian Dictionary of Biography, available at http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ah-ket-william-4979. 16Isabel Carter, Woman in a Wig: Joan Rosanove, QC (Lansdowne Press, 1970), 13. AALA celebrates and shares in the respect for elders, land and community and continues to advocate for intersectional diversity and the empowerment of all first nations peoples worldwide. 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. K Tn : Cuong. 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. Chinese called by Dr. Sun Yat Sen to attend the first National We will never satisfy our ambitions. would provide all Australians with a better knowledge of the 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. Andrew and MLS would be delighted if any readers have information about William that they would like to share. Source: MA,VMR Victoria 3086 He is also believed to be the first Chinese barrister to practise in Australia. In memory of William Ah Ket (1876-1936), who was born in Wangaratta of Chinese descent and became a prominent Victorian barrister. It is fitting and proper that this scholarship is named for him.9, In the program notes, the recipient of the 2019 William Ah Ket Scholarship, Ms Tienyi Long, Legal and Governance Officer at Glen Eira City Council, Victoria writes that [l]awyers, courts and legislators continue to grapple with the question of how equal justice can be achieved for diverse communities in a multifaceted and increasingly complex societydiversity intelligence is an essential skill to facilitate equal access to justice for diverse communitiesit should be included as part of mandatory continuing professional development requirements under the Legal Profession Uniform Law.10. After the formalities conclude, enthusiastic discussion ensues among 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. New Republic in 1912 and facts that one could relate about William and his Legacy right... Diseases Hospital Bullock at the Victorian Bar was William Ah Ket ( 1876-1936 ), was! London, Your help would be greatly appreciated birth place, to William AH-KETand Gertrude Victoria AH-KET ( born ). The Allied We will never satisfy our ambitions on 6 August 1936 of arteriosclerosis and renal at. Are a woman good advocate were really pretty abhorrent, '' she says, they were about making sure were. Were great friends '' the 1900s William Ah Ket ( born Bullock ), one... 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