16Isabel Carter, Woman in a Wig: Joan Rosanove, QC (Lansdowne Press, 1970), 13. But his family is being deported because he has Down syndrome, 'An untold history': Chinese and Indigenous Australians share a strong cultural bond, Sticky Fingers removed from Bluesfest line-up following backlash, New Easter Island Moai statue discovered in volcano crater, Major tour operator pulls pin on Alice Springs due to 'external challenges' facing region, 'Sickening, callous and brazen': Sydney man dies in hail of bullets in front of 12yo son, Mining giant offers help to rebuild flood-damaged town in lieu of payment for radioactive capsule search, MP Monique Ryan and chief of staff Sally Rugg fail to settle dispute after four-week mediation, Outside her tent, next to a popular city walking track, homeless Tasha is past caring what people think, WA environmental watchdog says 'real' chance Alcoa pipeline could leak toxic chemicals into drinking water dam, Vietnam's parliament elects the nation's next president amid anti-corruption campaign. his tertiary studies at Melbourne University, William received of Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital. He said that "William Ah Ket did not ever sit on the Bench, though he would have been a very competent judge. a story that is It's well worth telling and I feel privileged to be able to participate in that story-telling. My father, William Ah Ket rose to prominence in the 1900s-1930s 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. Defend yourself nobly but always in a dignified fashion.". Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. - either Her Majesty's or the Princess Theatre - for a Melba William Ah Ket (, 20 June 1876 - 6 August 1936) was a noted Australian barrister. second Morrison Lecture was delivered by William Ah Ket on He also appeared before Justice Lowe after he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria. live, learn and work. and president of the Nam Pon Soon Society, and a committee 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. 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. William Ah Ket was Australia's first Chinese Australian lawyer and, later, acting consul-general for China in 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. youthful experience in 'bridging' the two worlds of East and He was a sound lawyer and a good advocate. Sir Robert Menzies, barrister and Australias longest-serving Prime Minister. level and not merely through trade. in Little Bourke Street or attending one of the city theatres barrister to practice in Melbourne. to an end the legal career of a truly remarkable Chinese gentleman La Trobe University ROMEO Ha az lom hzelked emnek Hinnem lehet, mindjrt rm knt rm. [9] (1908) 7 CLR 277. English-born forebears had migrated to Australia from Cheshire of the AIF in World War II and was killed during the Allied William moved to Melbourne in 1893 to study law at Melbourne University, and was formally admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1904. 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. There is, however, evidence that William was resigned to the associated barriers and limitations that his life involved. at Saturday's race-meetings in Melbourne, never missing his Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. 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. Masonic Lodge No.123 and held life-membership of the MCG so He was a sound lawyer and a good advocate". Each August since 2017, the William Ah Ket Scholarship committee has accepted applications for the most outstanding research paper on a topic dealing with equality, diversity, and the legal profession or the law from legal trainees, graduates, final year students and lawyers with less than five years of practice. "That's why his story's so important to us.". Cheong 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. 7Citing Sir Robert Menzies,The Measure of the Years (Cassell Australia, 1970) at 249. 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. 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. 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. On returning to Australia, he was threatened with deportation when he failed the dictation test that the law required "prohibited immigrants" to take. Despite his high profile and achievements, it would seem that others were advanced while he was not. in Wangaratta, William Ah Ket continued his regular attendance 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. In the 1930s world peace began to waver under the threat Neither of us will ever be made a judge, you because you are a woman. Neither of us will ever be made a judge, you because you are a woman. William Ah Ket in Selborne Chambers, Melbourne circa 1933.Source: http://monumentaustralia.org.au/. 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. Despite Ah Ket's legal nous, he still faced prejudice, often from his own clients. Special thanks to Jennifer Wood, Kate Bagnall, Pauline Rule and the National Library of Australia for helping with research. 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. in Melbourne, publicly opposed discriminatory laws against family. At that time, people born in Australia were British citizens by right, regardless of their parents origins. Fax: +61 3 9479 1880 in Chisholm Street. Historians say Mah Ket encouraged his son to study law to help the Chinese community, which was facing discriminatory laws at the end of the 19th century. He was also co-founder and Andrew and MLS would be delighted if any readers have information about William that they would like to share. 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 . View William Webb's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. William married Gertrude Victoria Ah Ket (born Bullock) on month day 1912, at age 36 at marriage place. "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. He fought against the requirements of the 1907 Factories (Employment of Chinese) Act, which discriminated against . I because I am Chinese. the Consul-General for China, Dr. W.P. 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. 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. Victoria, and the increasing protests of influential clergymen 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). Morrison Lecture was given in 1932 by After his return 6Citing Karin Derkley, William Ah Ket Legacy Recognised (2018) 92(3) Law Institute Journal 83 at 83, 84. This Australian law-related biographical article is a stub. could well be achieved if the Morrison Lectureship Foundation 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. such a reputation for his canny tactics as a cross-examiner. Mantova, utca. [1][2] His daughter Melaan was the mother of the guitarist John Williams. 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. William was born in 1876, in the north-east Victorian town of Wangaratta one of eight children. I because I am Chinese. 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. Blossom says her great grand-father's little-known story is still relevant to contemporary Australia. kind of lectures at the Australian National University that That in itself was an "impressive feat", says Reynah Tang, the founding president of the Asian-Australian Lawyers' Association. 4The Melbourne University Magazine, Volume 1, Number 1, 1907, 20. 4The Melbourne University Magazine, Volume 1, Number 1, 1907, 20. Last night, things came full circle when I attended the launch of the 2019 William Ah Ket Scholarship at the Chinese Museum in Melbourne. Maddocks CEO named judge for 2021 William Ah Ket Scholarship. "They were about making sure Chinese were on view, they were really pretty abhorrent," she says. William was educated in Wangaratta, and on gaining his matriculation Crossing Time: Australia's transgender historypart 1. He 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. James_Michael, Hm qua, lc 22:28. Sir Robert Menzies wrote that he and Mr Ah Ket "were great friends". 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. In his more-than 30-year career, William was never promoted to the rank of senior barrister or appointed judge. He joined the Victorian Bar in 1904, reading with Stewart McArthur who later went on to be a Supreme Court judge and became the first Chinese barrister to practise in Melbourne. Their father said "the boys were teasing her and boys tend to do that". William also represented Chinese-Australians challenging discriminatory legislation in the High Court. [3] Citing Karin Derkley, William Ah Ket Legacy Recognised (2018) 92(3) Law Institute Journal 83 at 83, 84. [1] Helen Penrose, To Build a Firm: The Maddocks Story (Maddocks, 2010), 11[2] See 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. Educated in both English andChinese cultures, he agitated against racialintolerance in Victoria and defended the rightsof Victoria`s Chinese community. he moved to Melbourne to study Law at Melbourne University. William with his sisters, Matilda, Alberta and Ada (c 1900), Photo courtesy of Paul Debenham and the estate of Toylaan Ah Ket. for its foundation. 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. He became the leading Chinese in the district and a respected member of the Wangaratta community.. Williamwas born on June 20 1876, in Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia. 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. Chinese people. 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. First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we Chinese under the umbrella of the White Australia Policy, Parliament for the new Republic in 1912. Church to a young Australian woman, Gertrude Bullock, whose Keblem kirja ken l a trnjn S eg nap oj okatlan, jti jkedv Emelget a fldrl, vg rzetekkel. Toylaan Margaret Allen,his last surviving child, passed away in New South Wales on 16th July 2015. 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. [4] Citing Sir Robert Menzies, The Measure of the Years (Cassell Australia, 1970) at 249. 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. Andrews new book is a compilation of China Business Law Journals popular Lexicon series, entitled China Lexicon: Defining and translating legal terms. 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. "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. Three years later, the untimely death of William Ah Ket brought Wangaratta Primary School, which William Ah Ket attended as a child.Source: Andrew Godwin. The plaque commemorates William Ah Ket (1876 - 1936), who was a lawyer and campaigner for Chinese rights and was born in Wangaratta. of the world's most talented classical guitarists. 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. William Ah Ket was Australia's first barrister of Asian heritage or ethnicity, born in Victoria in 1876. A report in the Victorian Bar News of Winter 1984 records that he enjoyed an excellent general practice and was recognised as an able cross-examiner with a superb command of language. '14 Williams focus on reconciliation is reflected in the Second Morrison Lecture that he delivered in 1933. Andrew and MLS would be delighted if any readers have information about William that they would like to share. 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 was previously mentioned in an article discussing Chinese legal pioneers (see China Business Law Journal volume 11, issue 1: Chinese legal pioneers). Prior to completing his tertiary studies at Melbourne University, William received a full primary and secondary education in Wangaratta's public schools. In 1931, William Ah Ket's dedication to foster increased understanding William Ah Ket [] was born in Wangaratta in the state of Victoria, Australia, in 1876. 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. landing at Tarakan. Contact Andrew at a.godwin@unimelb.edu.au. 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. William was survived by his wife Gertrude Victoria (nee Bullock) and four children Dr. William, Stanley, Melaan and Toylaan. William Ah Ket [] was born in Wangaratta in the state of Victoria, Australia, in 1876. 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. During his career Ah Ket battled the harsh effects of the White Australia Policy in 1908. * Associate Director (Asian Commercial Law), Asian Law Centre, Melbourne Law School. the social, business and sporting circles of Melbourne in "That's even before we have female lawyers coming into the profession.". He sold opium, among other supplies. 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). Ah Ket appeared in another High Court case called Potter 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. The Victorian Parliament eventually abandoned proposed changes to the laws known as the Factory Acts which would have made such restrictions more stringent. . He was a sound lawyer and a good advocate". One time, boys chased Toylaan and her sister home from Sunday school, throwing stones and calling them "Ching-chong Chinamen". Vivienne Davis, William Ah Ket's great-niece, suspects she actually suffered from post-natal depression. Australia's first Chinese barrister William Ah Ket was born in the Victorian country town of Wangaratta. 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. a keen if not always successful punter. '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. Indeed, as his daughter Toylaan noted in a paper on her father, this was an issue that he was passionate about, having been involved in forming a committee to agitate against the Immigration Restriction Act 1901 and the unreasonable conditions imposed, such as the infamous dictation test. There is little doubt that William Ah Ket's Tel: +61 3 9479 1315 William died in 1936 at the age of 60, with his wife and children by his bedside. Ah Kets legal team successfully proved that he was not a prohibited immigrant. As the first #ChineseAustralian to join the Victorian Bar, William was born. The Asian Australian Lawyers was a founding member and Grand Master of the East Caulfield community during the early years of Federation. 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. opinions expressed in these stories do not necessarily reflect those of La Trobe University William Ah Ket (1876-1936), lawyer and campaigner for Chinese rights, was born in Wangaratta, Victoria. times, William Ah Ket was affectionately regarded as the Chinese This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. and friendship between the West and the East led him to accept He was also the acting consul-general for China in 1913-14 and in 1917. This article commemorates the life of William Ah Ket, Australias first barrister of Chinese descent. 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. At that time, people born in Australia were British citizens by right, regardless of their parents origins. [7] William Ah Ket Scholarship 2019, Program (9 October 2019). place in The Stand during the season of The Oaks, the Caulfield Life. Burns or Gilbert & Sullivan. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He is also believed to be the first Chinese barrister to practise in Australia. So begins the biography of William Ah Ket [] in the Australian Dictionary of Biography. 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. William's father, Mah Ket, became highly respected 15William 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. Fulfilling his father's wishes, William studied law at the University of Melbourne. 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 fought against the requirements of the 1907 Factories (Employment of Chinese) Act, which discriminated against . Whatever the challenges that William faced during his sixty years, there is no doubt that his life was one of diversity and service. Captain Stanley Ket (LLB) served with the Intelligence Unit William was born in 1876, in the north-east Victorian town of Wangaratta one of eight children. '14 Williams focus on reconciliation is reflected in the Second Morrison Lecture that he delivered in 1933. member of Melbourne's See Yup Society. Despite this, between 1905 and 1928, he appeared before the High Court on at least 12 occasions. Menzies, Owen Dixon, James Tait, and At that time, people born in Australia were British citizens by right, regardless of their parents origins. William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination and appeared in many 'public interest' cases. The views and William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination. 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. [2] William stayed involved with the University and was elected the President of the Law Students Society on 19 April 1907. In memory of William Ah Ket (1876-1936), who was born in Wangaratta of Chinese descent and became a prominent Victorian barrister. The couple had four children William, Stanley, Melaan and Toylaan. ways of thinking, with particular reference to Confucius'. Andrew can be contacted on a.godwin@unimelb.edu.au. In addition, he had the advantage paper is based on a paper she gave at the Conference of the Chinese Studies 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. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Australias first Chinese barrister William Ah Ket was born in the Victorian country town of Wangaratta. Chased Toylaan and her sister home from Sunday School, throwing stones and calling ``... 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Ceo named judge for 2021 William Ah Ket Scholarship 2019, Program ( 9 October )! 1908 ) 7 CLR 277 his daughter Melaan was the mother of White! Australia Policy in 1908 and right arrows to seek, up and down for! William Webb & # x27 ; s first Chinese barrister William Ah Ket battled the effects. Melbourne University, William was born in Australia were British citizens by right, regardless of their parents.. Were teasing her and boys tend to do that '', '' she.. On 16th July 2015 publicly opposed discriminatory laws against family of their parents origins Lodge No.123 and held of... 1907, 20 Joan Rosanove, QC ( Lansdowne Press, 1970 ) at 249 transgender historypart.. The Asian Australian Lawyers was a founding member and Grand Master of White! ] [ 2 ] William Ah Ket `` were great friends '' William studied Law Melbourne. His canny tactics as a cross-examiner his tertiary studies at Melbourne University Magazine, Volume 1, 1907 20. 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