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. of the George Ernest Morrison Memorial Lectureship in Ethnology William Ah Ket became a leading figure in the Chinese Australian ways of thinking, with particular reference to Confucius'. Guidelines for the Lectureship had been initially proposed So commences the biography of William Ah Ket [] in theAustralian Dictionary of Biography.1 An alumnus of the University of Melbourne, William studied Jurisprudence in 1897 at the University before joining the law firm of Maddock & Jamieson (now Maddocks) and commencing the articled clerks course at the University in 1898.2 After completing the articled clerks course in 1899, William won the Supreme Court Judges Prize in 1902 and was admitted to practice in 1903. Andrew can be contacted ona.godwin@unimelb.edu.au. Whatever the challenges that William faced during his sixty years, there is no doubt that his life was one of diversity and service. who had made such a worthy contribution to the history of That in itself was an "impressive feat", says Reynah Tang, the founding president of the Asian-Australian Lawyers' Association. such as the Dictation Test and Limitation of Residence. paper is based on a paper she gave at the Conference of the Chinese Studies 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. 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. 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. Ah Kets legal team successfully proved that he was not a prohibited immigrant. Even though the laws he fought against no longer exist, she says Australia continues to treat new migrant groups with suspicion. they raised a family of two sons and two daughters. He said that "William Ah Ket did not ever sit on the Bench, though he would have been a very competent judge. of growing up in a traditional Chinese household where his in Wangaratta, William Ah Ket continued his regular attendance Asian Australians have played a vital role in the legal profession since the late 1800s, starting with the first barrister of Chinese origin to join the independent bar in Victoria, William Ah Ket. In a special series, RN examines Australia's relationship to China, and its rising prominence in global affairs. Educated in both English andChinese cultures, he agitated against racialintolerance in Victoria and defended the rightsof Victoria`s Chinese community. well as a tobacco-grower, store-keeper, and property owner. Mantova, utca. He joined the ranks of barristers 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 the state of Victoria. Australia's first Chinese barrister William Ah Ket was born in the Victorian country town of Wangaratta. amendments to the 1896 Factories & Shops Act to Life [ edit] With paternal ancestry from Taishan, southern China, Ah Ket was Australia's first barrister of Asian heritage or ethnicity. The Inaugural G.E. 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. 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. The plaque commemorates William Ah Ket (1876 - 1936), who was a lawyer and campaigner for Chinese rights and was born in Wangaratta. '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. While there he won a prize of 40 pounds from the Supreme Court in 1902. William stayed involved with the University and was elected the President of the Law Students Society on 19 April 1907.4 Some 20 years later, in 1929, William supported a toast in favour of Sir Harrison Moore, the third Dean of Melbourne Law School, at a dinner hosted by the Law Students Society to mark Sir Harrisons retirement in 1927. William Ah Ket Australias first lawyer of Chinese descent, practise as a barrister at the independent bar in Victoria, his personal philosophy of building bridges between the East and West, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54dd81c6e4b074b4a339bb2e/t/5a1409caf9619a97a1396f77/1511262667464/WILLIAM+AH+KET+launch.pdf, 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. 10William Ah Ket Scholarship 2019, Program (9 October 2019). Despite his high profile and achievements, it would seem that others were advanced while he was not.6 He was neither appointed Silk nor a judge. Source: MA,VMR He was a phenomenon at the Victorian Bar, a full-blooded Chinese born in the north-east of Victoria. Tel: +61 3 9479 1315 choice would be a controversial play at The Little Theatre, 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. There is, however, evidence that William was resigned to the associated barriers and limitations that his life involved. We should have done Medicine.16, There are many more interesting stories and facts that one could relate about William and his legacy. 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. Keblem kirja ken l a trnjn S eg nap oj okatlan, jti jkedv Emelget a fldrl, vg rzetekkel. 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. 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. - either Her Majesty's or the Princess Theatre - for a Melba times, William Ah Ket was affectionately regarded as the Chinese From this summary of his early achievements, it is clear that William was a gifted student and lawyer, who succeeded in a time rife with racial discrimination. 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. This He fought against the requirements of the 1907 Factories (Employment of Chinese) Act, which discriminated against . He built up a successful [3] Citing Karin Derkley, William Ah Ket Legacy Recognised (2018) 92(3) Law Institute Journal 83 at 83, 84. This article contains content that is not available. Wu was born in the Straits Settlement in 1842. 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"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. 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. 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. 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. "Obviously there's not a White Australia policy as such against Chinese migrants," she says. "They were about making sure Chinese were on view, they were really pretty abhorrent," she says. at Saturday's race-meetings in Melbourne, never missing his William was educated in Wangaratta, and on gaining his matriculation [7] William Ah Ket Scholarship 2019, Program (9 October 2019). Popular among the press reporters and cartoonists of his . There is, however, evidence that William was resigned to the associated barriers and limitations that his life involved. as one of Melbourne's most talented and adroit barristers. Both William Ah Ket and his wife were music-lovers and regular Ah Ket was born in Wangaratta in 1876 and died in 1936. 6Citing Karin Derkley, William Ah Ket Legacy Recognised (2018) 92(3) Law Institute Journal 83 at 83, 84. He said that "William Ah Ket did not ever sit on the Bench, though he would have been a very competent judge. "Rumpole" of the Victorian Supreme Court, gaining There is little doubt that William Ah Ket's as Arthur Deane, R.G. Email: cha@latrobe.edu.au. 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. He said that "William Ah Ket did not ever sit on the Bench, though he would have been a very competent judge. to an end the legal career of a truly remarkable Chinese gentleman Captain Stanley Ket (LLB) served with the Intelligence Unit second Morrison Lecture was delivered by William Ah Ket on William's father, Mah Ket, became highly respected After his return See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover William's . [10] (1908) 7 CLR 277 at 307. kind of lectures at the Australian National University that William Ah Ket (1876-1936), lawyer and campaigner for Chinese rights, was born in Wangaratta, Victoria. family. Toylaan Margaret Allen,his last surviving child, passed away in New South Wales on 16th July 2015. 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. It was customary for them to celebrate the various anniversaries light opera or a Gladys Moncrief musical . Andrew and MLS would be delighted if any readers have information about William that they would like to share. Sir Robert Menzies wrote that he and Mr Ah Ket "were great friends". On arriving at court, William realised that the man who had teased him was the lawyer he was up against. Your information is being handled in accordance with the. 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. 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. Andrew and MLS would be delighted if any readers have information about William that they would like to share. Neither of us will ever be made a judge, you because you are a woman. William Ah Ket was Australia's first barrister of Asian heritage or ethnicity, born in Victoria in 1876. Toylaan remembered his final words: "Unity is strength.". 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. He was born in Victoria in 1876, the only son among six daughters William has 1 job listed on their profile. a keen if not always successful punter. Gertrudewas born on July 11 1887, in Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia. 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. In addition, the gallery is currently hosting an exhibition of memorabilia about him. Their eldest son William Ket MBBS became Deputy Superintendent 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. Andrew and MLS would be delighted if any readers have information about William that they would like to share. William Marc AH-KETwas born in month1914, at birth place, to William AH-KETand Gertrude Victoria AH-KET (born BULLOCK). 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. [13] Isabel Carter, Woman in a Wig: Joan Rosanove, QC (Lansdowne Press, 1970), 13. in Melbourne, publicly opposed discriminatory laws against the efforts of William Ah Ket in Melbourne and William J. His mother, Hing Ung, had bound feet and spoke no English. 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. Occasionally their [8] (1912) 15 CLR 267. His father, Ah Ket, and mother, Hing Ung, had established one of the first tobacco farms on the King River. William had 4 sisters: Alberta Young (born Ah Ket) and 3 other siblings. William Ah Ket was chosen as delegate by the Chinese Chamber In addition, he had the advantage William specialised in civil cases, including lawsuits over divorce petitions, wills and contracts. He became the leading Chinese in the district and a respected member of the Wangaratta community. [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. 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 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. Ah Kets legal team successfully proved that he was not a prohibited immigrant. He also appeared before Justice Lowe after he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria. 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. [3], Ah Ket fought against the requirements of the 1907 Factories (Employment of Chinese) Act, which discriminated against Chinese residents,[4] and successfully opposed legislative amendments in 1904, 1905, and 1907 which would have specifically discriminated against Chinese residents in the furniture industry. Asian Studies Program Chinese people. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. 5 Law Students Society Dinner to Sir Harrison Moore, Farrago 5(5), April 23, 1929. barrister to practice in Melbourne. William Ah Ket made history when he signed the bar roll. 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. The Victorian Parliament eventually abandoned proposed changes to the laws known as the Factory Acts which would have made such restrictions more stringent. Our data centers have been designed from the ground up to be some of the most efficient data centers in the world. In an interview with the National Library of Australia in 1993, she remembered her affluent childhood. William Shakespeare Romeo s Jlia 5. The couple had four children William, Stanley, Melaan and Toylaan. In a High Court case calledIngham v Hie Lee,11 Ah Ket represented a Chinese laundry owner who was charged with an offence under theFactories and Shops Act 1905 in Victoria. All rights reserved. Andrews new book is a compilation of China Business Law Journals popular Lexicon series, entitled China Lexicon: Defining and translating legal terms. the subject of 'Reconciliation between Eastern and Western 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. The legacy of Australia's #firstAsianlawyer, William Ah Ket, who battled #racism and achieved landmark victories, lives on. The younger son In the 1930s world peace began to waver under the threat He advocated and promoted peaceful coexistence. '14 Williams focus on reconciliation is reflected in the Second Morrison Lecture that he delivered in 1933. 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. William with his sisters, Matilda, Alberta and Ada (c 1900), Photo courtesy of Paul Debenham and the estate of Toylaan Ah Ket. 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. William Ah Ket was a noted Australian barrister. Andrew can be contacted on a.godwin@unimelb.edu.au. William's personal interests were widely diversified. "He famously won the case that day and then went over afterwards and put on a stereotype Chinese accent and said: 'How you likey my cross-examination?'" 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. 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. He was a sound lawyer and a good advocate". father employed a resident tutor for his 'seven little Australians' schools. La Trobe University "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.". , a full-blooded Chinese born in Victoria and defended the rightsof Victoria ` s Chinese community Institute. 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