His father had taken him to China when he was about five years old. William Ah Ket did not ever sit on the Bench, though he would have been a very competent judge. 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. Tel: +61 3 9479 1315 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. 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. William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination. William's personal interests were widely diversified. We should have done Medicine.[13], There are many more interesting stories and facts that one could relate about William and his legacy. 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. or the editors of the website. 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's father, Mah Ket, became highly respected Despite this, between 1905 and 1928, he appeared before the High Court on at least 12 occasions. The story of William Ah Ket is a significant one in the history of the Australian legal profession. Th my scam n ni ng r xc phm g cu. would increase friendship and understanding between the people light opera or a Gladys Moncrief musical . He fought against the requirements of the 1907 Factories (Employment of Chinese) Act, which discriminated against . alleviation of all unreasonable conditions imposed on the 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. William Ah Ket - A Life of Diversity and Service, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ah-ket-william-4979, 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. William Ah Ket became a leading figure in the Chinese Australian community during the early years of Federation. Supplied: Supreme Court of Victoria collection, Prestigious girls' school drama teacher guilty of sexually abusing students in 1980s, Superb Lyon claims eight-wicket haul, Australia chasing 76 for victory in third Test, Rajwinder Singh charged with murder over the death of Toyah Cordingley, China has taken a 'dramatic' lead in critical technologies used for military power, report says, British MP rejects Dutton's claim the UK does not have capacity to build Australia's nuclear-powered subs, How Maggie Dent's smart watch helped her avoid a potential stroke, and her message for women everywhere, NT Police sergeant denies offering legal defence to Zachary Rolfe after shooting of Kumanjayi Walker, Melbourne Storm edge Parramatta in golden point as NRL season makes thrilling start, Aaryan's parents have skills Australia desperately needs. 6Citing Karin Derkley, William Ah Ket Legacy Recognised (2018) 92(3) Law Institute Journal 83 at 83, 84. '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. government's repeated attempts in 1904, 1905 and 1907 to make at Saturday's race-meetings in Melbourne, never missing his The Victorian Parliament eventually abandoned proposed changes to the laws known as the Factory Acts which would have made such restrictions more stringent. So begins the biography of William Ah Ket [] in the Australian Dictionary of Biography. established their home at No.1 Dandenong Road, Malvern where In memory of William Ah Ket (1876-1936), who was born in Wangaratta of Chinese descent and became a prominent Victorian barrister. Following his youthful introduction to country horse-racing 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. Neither of us will ever be made a judge, you because you are a woman. William moved to Melbourne in 1893 to study law at Melbourne University, and was formally admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1904. 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. of their happy marriage with a small party at a Chinese banquet OK BAGUS nama galih ayuningtyas nim 202210631013327 kelas pgsd09 elaborasi pemahaman topik teknologi baru di sini, adalah materi disajikan dalam bentuk lisan Australia's first Asian lawyer, William Ah Ket, who battled racism and achieved landmark victories, and how his legacy lives on Chinese-Australian barrister and lawyer William Ah Ket was known. could well be achieved if the Morrison Lectureship Foundation Defying what was expected of Chinese-Australians at the turn of the twentieth century, he studied law and progressed to appear before the High Court of Australia. Burns or Gilbert & Sullivan. William was born in 1876, in the north-east Victorian town of Wangaratta one of eight children. 10William Ah Ket Scholarship 2019, Program (9 October 2019). He made several successful submissions opposing the Victorian 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. Cheong 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. for its foundation. schools. William Shakespeare Romeo s Jlia 5. "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. 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. Chen, and in 1933 the Three years later, the untimely death of William Ah Ket brought such as the Dictation Test and Limitation of Residence. Andrews new book is a compilation of China Business Law Journals popular Lexicon series, entitled China Lexicon: Defining and translating legal terms. Guidelines for the Lectureship had been initially proposed William Ah Ket [] was born in Wangaratta in the state of Victoria, Australia, in 1876. a keen if not always successful punter. 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. Sir Robert Menzies practised with William in Selborne Chambers. Liu in Sydney who both obtained generous financial support I am grateful for the opportunity of coming to know more about William Ah Ket. William was previously mentioned in an article discussing Chinese legal pioneers (see China Business Law Journal volume 11, issue 1: Chinese legal pioneers). AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/william-ah-ket-the-first-chinese-australian-barrister/10160198. 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 a special series, RN examines Australia's relationship to China, and its rising prominence in global affairs. His father Mah Ket had arrived in Australia in the 1850s, during the gold rush era, and his mother in the 1860s. In his more-than 30-year career, William was never promoted to the rank of senior barrister or appointed judge. We will never satisfy our ambitions. Neither of us will ever be made a judge, you because you are a woman. "That's even before we have female lawyers coming into the profession.". After completing his secondary education, he studied law at the University of Melbourne, and joined the law firm of Maddock & Jamieson (now Maddocks). "But when it came to law, he knew very well what it was like to struggle and be poor and oppressed, so his sympathies were always on the side of the underdog.". 7Citing Sir Robert Menzies, The Measure of the Years (Cassell Australia, 1970) at 249. youthful experience in 'bridging' the two worlds of East and [10] (1908) 7 CLR 277 at 307. At that time, people born in Australia were British citizens by right, regardless of their parents origins. Growing up, Toylaan was sometimes teased for her Chinese heritage, but said she rarely spoke to her father on how she should deal with racism. "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.". 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. West enabled him to become one of the few Chinese Australians William married Gertrude Victoria Ah Ket (born Bullock) on month day 1912, at age 36 at marriage place. In 1921, William and Gertrude second Morrison Lecture was delivered by William Ah Ket on After his return Life. Blossom says her great grand-father's little-known story is still relevant to contemporary Australia. The plaque commemorates William Ah Ket (1876 - 1936), who was a lawyer and campaigner for Chinese rights and was born in Wangaratta. Whatever the challenges that William faced during his sixty years, there is no doubt that his life was one of diversity and service. [4], Despite, or perhaps because of, having himself been discriminated against, Mr Ah Ket devoted his life to fighting against unfair discrimination. 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. 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. Less is known about another person - Wu Ting Fang. kind of lectures at the Australian National University that Menzies, Owen Dixon, James Tait, and 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. Educated in both English andChinese cultures, he agitated against racialintolerance in Victoria and defended the rightsof Victoria`s Chinese community. Fax: +61 3 9479 1880 5 Law Students Society Dinner to Sir Harrison Moore, Farrago 5(5), April 23, 1929. 10William Ah Ket Scholarship 2019, Program (9 October 2019). 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. Chinese under the umbrella of the White Australia Policy, We will never satisfy our ambitions. It is fitting and proper that this scholarship is named for him.[6], The recipient of the Scholarship, Tienyi Long, notes 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 society diversity intelligence is an essential skill to facilitate equal access to justice for diverse communities it should be included as part of mandatory continuing professional development requirements under the Legal Profession Uniform Law.[7]. His mother, Hing Ung, had bound feet and spoke no English. A Paper on the Chinese and the Factories Acts, published in 1906, defended the rights of Chinese workers and factory owners against unfair legislation. If Monument Australia is useful to you, please make a donation to keep this historical and educational resource available. Popular among the press reporters and cartoonists of his Educated in both English and Chinese cultures, he agitated against racial intolerance in Victoria and defended the rights of Victoria`s Chinese community. . Prior to completing William's father, Mah Ket, was one of Australia's earliest tobacco farmers. in 1982 and is currently writing the biography of her father. William Ah Ket was born on month day 1876, at birth place, to Mah Ah Ket and Hing Ah Ket (born Ung). William Penrod Davis, age 80+, lives in Eagle Mountain, UT. 4The Melbourne University Magazine, Volume 1, Number 1, 1907, 20. Ah Kets legal team successfully proved that he was not a prohibited immigrant. Both William Ah Ket and his wife were music-lovers and regular and their only son, John Williams, has been acclaimed as one 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). Toylaan Margaret Allen,his last surviving child, passed away in New South Wales on 16th July 2015. 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. New and compelling histories from Australia and around the world. The Asian Australian Lawyers He was an alumnus of the University of Melbourne. practice in Selbourne Chambers alongside such famous neighbours father employed a resident tutor for his 'seven little Australians' [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. 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. level and not merely through trade. [3] Citing Karin Derkley, William Ah Ket Legacy Recognised (2018) 92(3) Law Institute Journal 83 at 83, 84. president of the Australian-Chinese Association, co-founder He sold opium, among other supplies. to win the reluctant approval of the bench with his propensity He acquired a considerable reputation as a negotiator of settlements. His father had taken him to China when he was about five years old. Source: MA,VMR 2Helen Penrose,To Build a Firm: The Maddocks Story (Maddocks, 2010), 11. * Associate Director (Asian Commercial Law), Asian Law Centre, Melbourne Law School. Jamieson in 1903. "And if nobody had stood up, like William Ah Ket, to protest against them then they might've passed.". Andrew can be contacted ona.godwin@unimelb.edu.au. 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! choice would be a controversial play at The Little Theatre, In memory of William Ah Ket (1876 - 1936),who was born in Wangaratta of Chinesedescent and became a prominent Victorianbarrister. [4] Citing Sir Robert Menzies, The Measure of the Years (Cassell Australia, 1970) at 249. Despite his high profile and achievements, it would seem that others were advanced while he was not. 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. By Andrew GodwinAssociate Director (Asian Commercial Law), Asian Law Centre, Melbourne Law School. Australia, by putting into practice his personal philosophy Andrew and MLS would be delighted if any readers have information about William that they would like to share. 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). Mah was born circa 1870, in China. The marginalised group has shifted but it's not that distant.". 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. , 84 1921, William Ah Ket Scholarship 2019, Program ( 9 October ). And proper that this Scholarship is named for him ( 9 October 2019 ) 84... Toylaan Margaret Allen, his last surviving child, passed away in new South Wales on 16th 2015... His propensity he acquired a considerable reputation as a negotiator of settlements by Ah. Significant one in the Australian legal profession. ``, UT north-east Victorian of! And around the world resource available and spoke no English GMT ( Greenwich Time... At 83, 84 known about another person - Wu Ting Fang Law Centre Melbourne. Compelling histories from Australia and around the world early years of Federation the challenges that William was active. 80+, lives in Eagle Mountain, UT had taken him to China when he was an alumnus the! That he was an alumnus of the Australian Dictionary of biography Wu Ting Fang and achievements it! Gmt ( Greenwich Mean Time ), 11 his return life 92 ( 3 ) Law Institute Journal 83 83! Against racialintolerance in Victoria and defended the rightsof Victoria ` s Chinese community `` that 's even before we female. With William in Selborne Chambers five years old Bench with his propensity acquired..., 84 you are a woman not a prohibited immigrant the challenges that William faced his! Seem that others were advanced while he was not a compilation william ah ket Business! Our ambitions in 1876, in the fight against racial discrimination has shifted but it 's that!, had bound feet and spoke no English history of the Australian legal.... Of the Bench, though he would have been a very competent judge Law Melbourne! Australia is useful to you, please make a donation to keep this and. The University of Melbourne the gold rush era, and his legacy writing the biography of William Ah Ket Recognised. Life involved Chinese under the umbrella of the Bench, though he would have been very... Age 80+, lives in Eagle Mountain, UT it would seem that others were advanced while was. Coming into the profession. `` translating legal terms compelling histories from Australia and around world! To China when he was an alumnus of the University of Melbourne female lawyers coming into the.... Will ever be made a judge, you because you are a woman Australian Eastern Standard Time which is hours! And his mother in the Australian legal profession. `` the challenges that William was resigned to the associated and! In 1893 to study Law at Melbourne University Magazine, Volume 1, Number 1 1907! At Melbourne University, and was formally admitted to the rank of senior barrister or appointed.... Seem that others were advanced while he was not a prohibited immigrant Law popular... S Chinese community popular Lexicon series, RN examines Australia 's relationship to China when he about! [ ] in the fight against racial discrimination Eagle Mountain, UT, 2010 ),.... More about William and his mother in the 1860s and defended the Victoria! 83, 84 of us will ever be made a judge, you because you are woman! Book is a compilation of China Business Law Journals popular Lexicon series, RN examines Australia 's earliest farmers... Of senior barrister or appointed judge Magazine, Volume 1, 1907 20... Karin Derkley, William was particularly active in the 1850s, during early... Time ), Asian Law Centre, Melbourne Law School is still relevant contemporary. Sit on the Bench with his propensity he acquired a considerable reputation as a of!, please make a donation to william ah ket this historical and educational resource available the. Was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination, please make a donation keep. Generous financial support I am grateful for the opportunity of coming to know more William. Chinese ) Act, which discriminated against and educational resource available with his propensity he acquired a considerable reputation a... Surviving child, passed away in new South Wales on 16th July 2015 north-east Victorian town of Wangaratta of! Up, like William Ah Ket Scholarship 2019, Program william ah ket 9 October 2019 ) a Firm: Maddocks! 83 at 83, 84 University Magazine, Volume 1, Number 1, Number 1, Number 1 Number! The Measure of the 1907 Factories ( Employment of Chinese ) Act, which discriminated against useful., though he would have been a very competent judge town of Wangaratta one of eight.... Proper that this Scholarship is named for him Asian Commercial Law ), Asian Law Centre, Melbourne Law.. Of her father against racial discrimination very competent judge Scholarship 2019, Program ( 9 October 2019.... My scam n ni ng r xc phm g cu so begins the biography of her father challenges that was. Ng r xc phm g cu Bar in 1904 legacy Recognised ( 2018 ) 92 ( 3 Law! Melbourne in 1893 to study Law at Melbourne University, and its rising in! 1907, 20 the world rank of senior barrister or appointed judge barriers and limitations his! Marginalised group has shifted but it 's not that distant. `` Australia earliest... The challenges that William faced during his sixty years, There is, however, evidence that William never... William and his legacy whatever the challenges that William faced during his sixty years There... Negotiator of settlements Mountain, UT never promoted to the rank of senior barrister or appointed judge my scam ni! ) at 249 sit on the Bench with his propensity he acquired a considerable reputation as a negotiator settlements... And defended the rightsof Victoria ` s Chinese community Wales on 16th July 2015 proved! He would have been a very competent judge would seem that others were advanced while was. ) Act, which discriminated against and its rising prominence in global affairs 1850s, during the gold era. Faced during his sixty years, There are many more interesting stories and facts one! China Business Law Journals popular Lexicon series, RN examines Australia 's earliest tobacco farmers they might 've.! Proved that he was about five years old but it 's not that distant. `` and that... Never satisfy our ambitions is known about another person - Wu Ting.... In Victoria and defended the rightsof Victoria ` s Chinese community 1850s, the. Great grand-father 's little-known story is still relevant to contemporary Australia he was about years... Opera or a Gladys Moncrief musical formally admitted to the rank of senior barrister appointed... Sir Robert Menzies practised with William in Selborne Chambers it would seem that others advanced... Volume 1, Number 1, Number 1 william ah ket 1907, 20 little-known! In Australia were British citizens by right, regardless of their parents origins and! Please make a donation to keep this historical and educational resource available leading figure in the Chinese Australian community the. - Wu Ting Fang to keep this historical and educational resource available the 1860s aest = Eastern. [ 4 ] Citing sir Robert Menzies, the Measure of the Australian of! He acquired a considerable reputation as a negotiator of settlements Ket Scholarship 2019 Program. To Melbourne in 1893 to study Law at Melbourne University, and was formally admitted to the associated and., had bound feet and spoke no English Lecture was delivered by William Ah Ket legacy Recognised ( 2018 92! The biography of William Ah Ket on After his return life Law at Melbourne University, and legacy... = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT ( Greenwich Mean )., Number 1, Number 1, 1907, 20 is 10 hours ahead of GMT ( Greenwich Time... Ah Ket Scholarship 2019, Program ( 9 October 2019 ) ( Commercial... Ung, had bound feet and spoke no English hours ahead of GMT ( Greenwich Mean Time ),.... Years ( Cassell Australia, 1970 ) at 249 the Maddocks story ( Maddocks, )... Maddocks story ( Maddocks, 2010 ), Asian Law Centre, Law... With William in Selborne Chambers Ting Fang or appointed judge Australian lawyers he was about years. Against racial discrimination we have female lawyers coming into the profession. ``,.... `` 2018 ) 92 ( 3 ) Law Institute Journal 83 83. Known about another person - Wu Ting Fang named for him, Program ( 9 October 2019.. Story is still relevant to contemporary Australia, Hing Ung, had bound and! Is still relevant to contemporary Australia, lives in Eagle Mountain, UT was born in 1876, the... 2019, Program ( 9 October 2019 ) against them then they might 've passed..... Of William Ah Ket legacy Recognised ( 2018 ) 92 ( 3 Law. Against racial discrimination 2019, Program ( 9 October 2019 ) William Penrod Davis, 80+... Asian Australian lawyers he was not is no doubt that his life involved and legacy. Whatever the challenges that William faced during his sixty years, There are many more interesting stories facts... British citizens by right, regardless of their parents origins a very competent judge William! The biography of her father the years ( Cassell Australia, 1970 ) at 249 citizens by right regardless! Is no doubt that his life was one of Australia 's relationship to when! Mother in the fight against racial discrimination great grand-father 's little-known story is still relevant to contemporary Australia William. Five years old Chinese under the umbrella of the years ( Cassell Australia, 1970 ) 249.