all born in Australia to his Chinese parents. practice in Selbourne Chambers alongside such famous neighbours Chinese people. "But we're living in days of the incarceration of refugees and asylum seekers. 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. 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. Andrew Godwin is researching the life and times of William Ah Ket and is working with the descendants of the Ah Ket family for this purpose. "That's even before we have female lawyers coming into the profession.". would provide all Australians with a better knowledge of the or a night of comedy at the Tivoli with Stiffy & Mo. He was also active in political groups which lobbied on behalf of the Chinese-Australian community against the legal supply of opium, and laws which imposed restrictions on Chinese laundry workers and furniture-makers. Popular among the press reporters and cartoonists of his 1901. Mah was born circa 1870, in China. 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. level and not merely through trade. William married Gertrude Victoria Ah Ket (born Bullock) on month day 1912, at age 36 at marriage place. 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. Australias first Chinese barrister William Ah Ket was born in the Victorian country town of Wangaratta. 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! His great grand-daughter, Blossom Ah Ket, recalls a family story of a white Australian man taunting the barrister on a train on the way to court. Ah Kets legal team successfully proved that he was not a prohibited immigrant. respect, not only within his legal fraternity, but within . He fought against the requirements of the 1907 Factories (Employment of Chinese) Act, which discriminated against . 6Citing Karin Derkley, William Ah Ket Legacy Recognised (2018) 92(3) Law Institute Journal 83 at 83, 84. Despite his high profile and achievements, it would seem that others were advanced while he was not. William Ah Ket [] was born in Wangaratta in the state of Victoria, Australia, in 1876. in Melbourne, publicly opposed discriminatory laws against He was, by all accounts, a man of of Australia and the people of China - albeit at the academic 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. who had made such a worthy contribution to the history of English-born forebears had migrated to Australia from Cheshire View William Webb's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. 1John Lack, Ah Ket, William (1876 1936), Australian Dictionary of Biography, available at http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ah-ket-william-4979. 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. Email: cha@latrobe.edu.au. The reason why the Chinese laundry owner had been charged was that a Chinese man had been found in the laundry between 9 and 10pm at night ironing a shirt, apparently in breach of the after-hours work prohibition. He has the lucky number of 88 on the Victorian Bar roll. Burns or Gilbert & Sullivan. as one of Melbourne's most talented and adroit barristers. In the 1900s William Ah Ket along with other leaders of the 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. 7Citing Sir Robert Menzies, The Measure of the Years (Cassell Australia, 1970) at 249. '14 Williams focus on reconciliation is reflected in the Second Morrison Lecture that he delivered in 1933. William Ah Ket became a leading figure in the Chinese Australian community during the early years of Federation. 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. William was born in 1876, in the north-east Victorian town of Wangaratta one of eight children. recital, a Gilbert & Sullivan production, a Franz Lehar Australia, by putting into practice his personal philosophy which he moved. Neither of us will ever be made a judge, you because you are a woman. of his time who could mix with ease, and enjoy widespread 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. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. 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. 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. He became the leading Chinese in the district and a respected member of the Wangaratta community. Maureen Bedford - Great-niece of William Ah Ket, Vivienne Davis- Great-niece of William Ah Ket, Reynah Tang- Lawyer and founding president of Asian Australian Lawyers Association, Toylaan Ah Ket- Daughter of William Ah Ket, Blossom Ah Ket- Great-granddaughter of William Ah Ket, The Chinese and the Factories Acts by William Ah Ket,1906, The Measure of the Years by Sir Robert Menzies, 1970. - either Her Majesty's or the Princess Theatre - for a Melba Andrew Godwin is researching the life and times of William Ah Ket and is working with the descendants of the Ah Ket family for this purpose. He is also believed to be the first Chinese barrister to practise in Australia. The story of William Ah Ket, the first Chinese-Australian barrister. 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]. Please contact us. 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! William was educated in Wangaratta, and on gaining his matriculation [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. Despite this, between 1905 and 1928, he appeared before the High Court on at least 12 occasions. He advocated and promoted peaceful coexistence. Their eldest son William Ket MBBS became Deputy Superintendent His father had taken him to China when he was about five years old. "William Ah Ket is in his teens at this time and he's being brought up to be a smart, educated young man, so he would've seen all this going on.". of their happy marriage with a small party at a Chinese banquet The legacy of Australia's #firstAsianlawyer, William Ah Ket, who battled #racism and achieved landmark victories, lives on. 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. One of the most distinguished a presentatives of the Chinese community in Australia, and one of the most popular members of the Bar in Victoria, Mr. William . The test required all immigrants from China to write in English or another European language a passage of approximately 50 words, dictated by a customs officer. Both William Ah Ket and his wife were music-lovers and regular established their home at No.1 Dandenong Road, Malvern where 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. 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. [10] (1908) 7 CLR 277 at 307. Blossom says her great grand-father's little-known story is still relevant to contemporary Australia. First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we Vivienne Davis, William Ah Ket's great-niece, suspects she actually suffered from post-natal depression. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the There is little doubt that William Ah Ket's 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. such as the Dictation Test and Limitation of Residence. for China in Melbourne in 1913-14 and again in 1917. The keynote address is delivered by the Honourable Susan Kiefel AC, Chief Justice of The High Court of Australia, who makes the following comments: By all accounts, Mr Ah Ket was a remarkable man. [3] Citing Karin Derkley, William Ah Ket Legacy Recognised (2018) 92(3) Law Institute Journal 83 at 83, 84. The reason why the Chinese laundry owner had been charged was that a Chinese man had been found in the laundry between 9 and 10 pm at night ironing a shirt, apparently in breach of the after-hours work prohibition. Fax: +61 3 9479 1880 William was born in 1876, in the north-east Victorian town of Wangaratta one of eight children. 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. 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. He also appeared before Justice Lowe after he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria. Menzies, Owen Dixon, James Tait, and 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. He became the leading Chinese in the district and a respected member of the Wangaratta community.. 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Last night, things came full circle when I attended the launch of the 2019 William Ah Ket Scholarship at the Chinese Museum in Melbourne. William Ah Ket was a noted Australian barrister. Chinese called by Dr. Sun Yat Sen to attend the first National his tertiary studies at Melbourne University, William received William broke social barriers when he signed the bar roll in 1904 one paper described him as a "full-blooded, clever young Chinese" and built a reputation as a skilled barrister. William specialised in civil cases, including lawsuits over divorce petitions, wills and contracts. He was a sound lawyer and a good advocate". Wu was born in the Straits Settlement in 1842. His father had arrived in Victoria in 1855 and after some years on the goldfields established one of the earliest . 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. We should have done Medicine.[13], There are many more interesting stories and facts that one could relate about William and his legacy. 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. Sir Robert Menzies wrote that he and Mr Ah Ket "were great friends". schools. In a High Court case called Ingham v Hie Lee,11 Ah Ket represented a Chinese laundry owner who was charged with an offence under the Factories and Shops Act 1905 in Victoria. 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. He made several successful submissions opposing the Victorian father employed a resident tutor for his 'seven little Australians' Ah Kets colleagues remembered him with warmth and affection as an amiable and gregarious man, greatly respected for his ability and integrity. The International Who's Who: 1984/85, 2004, "William Ah Ket - Building Bridges between Occident and Orient in Australia, 1900-1936*", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Ah_Ket&oldid=1136723876, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 31 January 2023, at 20:35. migrated from Canton in the 1850s, and when the Gold Rush Less is known about another person - Wu Ting Fang. His mother, Hing Ung, had bound feet and spoke no English. Dr Couchman says the changes William spoke out against were "very invasive". 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. "And if nobody had stood up, like William Ah Ket, to protest against them then they might've passed.". View their profile including current address, phone number 801-571-XXXX, background check reports, and property record on Whitepages, the most trusted online directory. I because I am Chinese. 4The Melbourne University Magazine, Volume 1, Number 1, 1907, 20. in China and towards the Pacific nations including Australia. 15William Ah Ket, Eastern Thought, with special reference to Confucius (Second Morrison Lecture, 3 May 1933), available athttps://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/145813/2/Morrison%20Oration%2002.pdf. Mantova, utca. He completed his articles with the solicitors Maddison & [7] William Ah Ket Scholarship 2019, Program (9 October 2019). William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination and appeared in many 'public interest' cases. Andrew and MLS would be delighted if any readers have information about William that they would like to share. William Ah Ket fought social prejudice in and out of court. This article commemorates the life of William Ah Ket, Australias first barrister of Chinese descent. "[The man was] asking him how the Chinaman liked his cup of tea and really awful things," she says. Prior to completing his tertiary studies at Melbourne University, William received a full primary and secondary education in Wangaratta's public schools. She said there were maids at the family home, where her parents often hosted glamorous mah-jong and poker parties for their friends. 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. La Trobe University On arriving at court, William realised that the man who had teased him was the lawyer he was up against. William Ah Ket in Selborne Chambers, Melbourne circa 1933.Source: http://monumentaustralia.org.au/. This article originally appeared on the Melbourne Law School website on May 20, 2020. It is timely to commemorate Williams life because a photo of William will soon be unveiled in the Portrait Gallery of the Victorian Bar in Melbourne, Australia. 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). Andrews new book is a compilation of China Business Law Journals popular Lexicon series, entitled China Lexicon: Defining and translating legal terms. "In the mid-1880s the colonies decided they were no longer going to naturalise Chinese, and then in 1903 that was enshrined in federal legislation. His father had 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. at the National University in Canberra. amendments to the 1896 Factories & Shops Act to Sir Robert Menzies wrote that he and Mr Ah Ket "were great friends". 3See William Lye OAM, Introduction to William Ah Ket at the Victorian Bar and Scholarship (William Ah Ket Inaugural Scholarship Launch at Maddocks, 21 November 2017), available at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54dd81c6e4b074b4a339bb2e/t/5a1409caf9619a97a1396f77/1511262667464/WILLIAM+AH+KET+launch.pdf. . Ben Dunn who all gained renown in that era as KCs, or Justices He was born on 20 June 1876 at Wangaratta, Victoria, the only son and fifth child of Mah Ket and Hing Ung. William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination. Masonic Lodge No.123 and held life-membership of the MCG so Fulfilling his father's wishes, William studied law at the University of Melbourne. The views and Whatever the challenges that William faced during his sixty years, there is no doubt that his life was one of diversity and service. The younger son 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. Parliament for the new Republic in 1912. His father Mah Ket had arrived in Australia in the 1850s, during the gold rush era, and his mother in the 1860s. William Ah Ket was Australia's first barrister of Asian heritage or ethnicity, born in Victoria in 1876. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. [4], Despite, or perhaps because of, having himself been discriminated against, Mr Ah Ket devoted his life to fighting against unfair discrimination. Toylaan, the youngest daughter, died in 2015 at the age of 94. William's father, Mah Ket, became highly respected the Consul-General for China, Dr. W.P. Published: TueTue 28 Feb 2023 at 12:00am/with Kirsti Melville, Published: 21 Feb 2023Tue 21 Feb 2023 at 12:00am/with Kirsti Melville, Published: 14 Feb 2023Tue 14 Feb 2023 at 12:00am/with Kirsti Melville, Published: 7 Feb 2023Tue 7 Feb 2023 at 12:00am/with Kirsti Melville. One case he was involved in successfully challenged the Immigration Restriction Act better known as the White Australia policy in 1908. He was a sound lawyer and a good advocate". Occasionally their 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. Life [ edit] With paternal ancestry from Taishan, southern China, Ah Ket was Australia's first barrister of Asian heritage or ethnicity. 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