Two admit in court to killing grandmother, 66

From Daily Telegraph

TWO men pleaded guilty yesterday to the 1987 manslaughter of a grandmother who landed head-first on a concrete kerb during a bungled bag snatch.

Glen Neil Sparks, 46, and David Gordon Stracey, 48, pleaded guilty in Central Local Court to the manslaughter of Po Cin Lim by a dangerous and unlawful act.

The 66-year-old died of head injuries on October 6, 1987, the day after she was dragged alongside a stolen panelvan at the corner of Goulburn and Pitt Sts in central Sydney.

Sparks and Stracey also pleaded guilty to robbery in company for snatching another woman's bag minutes before they targeted Ms Lim.

The magistrate adjourned the sentencing of the men to the Supreme Court on July 2.

Asian ANZACs

All information on this page will be transferred to another site: Chinese Anzacs http://chineseanzacs.blogspot.com/


I will no longer be updating this page.
 
This page will list all the Asian ANZACs who I can find photos, stories or articles of. This is only the tip of the iceberg, there are A LOT more. Please check back regularly as it will constantly be updated, hopefully I will be able to link the photos up to stories. I will also put the medals and ranks in later, and it'll look scrappy from time to time but it will be cleaned up.

Monument in Darling harbour
Introduction - to be added
The monument comprises a 10-metre high sculpture with 380 light rods that spiral around a column. The structure symbolises water and the Chinese belief that relationships of reciprocity do not end with death.




Parliament speech

Boer War
Introduction - to be added

WW1
Introduction - to be added

Amoy, Thomas 3rd Light Horse Regiment Picture source	He's somewhere in this pic
Foo (Ford), Ernest Arthur Picture source
Foo, Walter Denman 2nd Light Horse Regiment Picture source
Freame, Harry	Pic to come
Gooey, William 13th Light Horse Regiment	Pic to come
Gum, Raymond Frank 9th Light Horse Regiment	Pic to come
Hong, Thomas 10th Light Horse Regiment	Pic to come
Hoyling (Hoy Ling), Harry Pic 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
James, Harry Colonel 6th Light Horse Regiment	Pic to come
Kew-Ming, Leslie Sergeant, MM ADU Post	Pic to come
Kong Meng, George 8th Australian Light Horse George was initially denied entry into the AIF because his father was Chinese. His brother somehow managed to get in. Read his letter to the Argus Newspaper re Recruiting Stupidity The Kong Meng Family Picture source
Kong Meng, Herbert Sergeant	Pic to come
Langtip, Bertie Allen 4th Light Horse Regiment	Pic to come
Langtip, Ernest Walter 4th Light Horse Regiment	Pic to come
Langtip, Henry "Harry Staff Sergeant 4th Light Horse Regiment	Pic to come
Langtip, Leslie Oliver Corporal, DCM 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment Leslie received a military good conduct medal for bravery during the charge on Damascus. He knocked out a Turkish gun which was defending the gates. Read the recommendation here. Leslie and his brothers enlisted together, embarked together, served together and returned together. One of them is said to have king-hit Lawrence(of Arabia) for mistreating a Turkish prisoner. Picture source
Loo Long, William Corporal, MM and Bar ADU Post	Pic to come
Ping, Julian Edward William 11th Light Horse Regiment	Pic to come
Poon, Hunter(This guy has the best name) Corporal 15th Battalion Hunter was the first Australian of Chinese heritage (he is 3/4 Chinese) to play first-class cricket Wikipedia Entry
Quong Tart, Arthur Son of Mei Quong Tart	Pic to come
Sam, George Flood Sergeant, MM Five of the seven sons of the Sam family served in the AIF. The fifth son signed up using a different name.	Pic to come
Sam, Henry Herbert	Pic to come
Sam, James Francis	Pic to come
Sam, Norman	Pic to come
Shang, James Caleb DCM & Bar, MM Caleb is the most highly decorated Chinese Australian of WW1. The DCM was awarded for numerous acts of gallantry, one of which included attacking and accounting for snipers in broad daylight. The bar was awarded for volunteering to man a post, defending it until it was blown up, and then acting as ammunition runner. ADB Entry Wikipedia Entry
Sing, Billy DCM, Belgian Cross aka "The Assassin" Wikipedia Entry Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4
Sing, George Reuben Imperial Camel Corps Brigade	Pic to come
Tongway (Tong Way), Hedley	Pic to come
Tongway (Tong Way), Samuel J Airminded Article
Young, William Picture source
Yum, George Henry 1st Light Horse Regiment	Pic to come

WW2
Introduction - to be added

Ah Chee, Alex RNZAF Kiwi Pic source
Ahyee, C.A. Corporal WAAAF (Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force) Picture source
Anguey, Bob Pic source
Anguey, Phyllis Senior Sister RAAF Nursing Service	Pic to come
Chan, George Sergeant RNZAF	Pic to come
Chan, Kow Kow was killed during the first bombing raid of Darwin.	Pic to come
Cheong, Tom P/O 43 Squadron Wireless Air Gunner RAAF He flew, making convoy runs and bombing raids and laying mines in New Guinea. Tom received an OAM in 2006 for commemorating Chinese Australian War Veterans.  Tom planned, supervised and inspired the monument built in Darling Harbour in memory of all Chinese Australian servicemen and servicewomen. (Source)
Chow, Mai Merchant Navyman Mai was killed during the first bombing raid of Darwin.	Pic to come
Choy, H. Hong Sergeant 6th Division Corps Signals Pic 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Choy, Valda Olive Intelligence WAAAF	Pic to come
Fore, Eileen WAAF Kiwi	Pic to come
Fore, Jimmy Wanganui Home Guard Kiwi	Pic to come
Fore, Teresa WAAF Kiwi	Pic to come
Goon, Bertram Robert Pic source
Goon, Eric William Pic source
Goon, Ernest Leonard Pic source
Goon, Jack Article here
Goon, Norman Geoffrey Pic source
Kong, Charlie Article and audio clips here
Land (or Lang), 1940-08. PTE. LAND AND SON. (OR LANG). FIRST CHINESE TO ENLIST IN THE A.I.F. for WWII - They are obviously mixed. Pic source
Lee, Daniel Chan 7RMT Royal Military Transport Kiwi and also his brothers Willie and Harry Article here
Lee, Donald Pic source
Lee, Harry Pic 1, 2
Lee, J. (right)
Lee, Wellington OAM, OBE Wellington has also served as the Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne Pic source, 2
Liu, Bo OAM
Lee, Willie RNZAF Kiwi Willie's plane crashed in England and his grave can be seen at Shropshire Cemetery	Pic to come
Lock, Billy  (left) Pic 1, 2
Nomchong, Lionel
Nomchong, Norman	Pic to come
Quan, Kate (Kathleen) WAAAF Kate served in the WAAAF and later worked with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in China
Quay (Kee or Key), Stanley Wing Corporal 2/3rd Battalion Mentioned in dispatches, see here. Also served in Korean War (see below)	Pic to come
See, Frederick Wong (first ABC to serve in RAAF) Pic 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Sing, Arthur John Gunner 2 Mountain Battery, Royal Australian Artillery He was killed in action on 31 March 1944 in New Guinea, at the age of 31. Pic source
Sue, Jack Wong
Yen, Wong Aircraftman RAAF Source
Yep, Thomas Tung Flight Officer, bomb aimer RAAF Pic source
Yin, Charles Sergeant N-Force Kiwi	Pic to come

Korean War
Introduction - To be added

Quay (Kee or Key), Stanley Wing Company Sergeant Major 3RAR Stanley also served in the Second World War Pic 1, 2

Vietnam War

Introduction - To be added

Long, China Pic source

Random Photos








PICTURE STORY OF A "CHINESE VILLAGE" IN AN AUSTRALIAN SETTING SOMEWHERE IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA. ..  There are plenty of pictures in this series, just go to Trove and search for Chinese Village.




Members of Chinese Labour Company in Central Australia drilling on the Parade Ground. These men were formerly seamen serving in ships plying between Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore, and are now volunteers in the Australian Army.


PORT HEDLAND, AUSTRALIA. 1943-05-02. CHANG SEE YAW OF THE CHINESE LABOUR CORPS AT HEADQUARTERS, "A" COMPANY, 19TH AUSTRALIAN GARRISON BATTALION. HE SAW SERVICE IN FRANCE DURING 1914 TO 1918 WAR AND SPEAKS FLUENT FRENCH.



PERTH, AUSTRALIA. 1943-03-30. SERGEANT OF CHINESE LABOUR CORPS AT 3RD AUSTRALIAN CORPS HEADQUARTERS.



PERTH, AUSTRALIA. 1943-03-30. LAUNDRYMEN OF THE CHINESE LABOUR CORPS AT 3RD AUSTRALIAN CORPS HEADQUARTERS.



A Chinese labourer attached to the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, resting with his pack, near Contalmaison, during the British retirement before the big German offensive, which commenced on 21 March 1918. Note the boxes to his right.  - I wonder if the story that Beneath Hill 60 is based on had Chinese labourers doing all the digging? =P



Eight members of the Chinese Labour Corps at a railway yard with three unidentified staff of the 2nd Australian Light Railway Operating Company. The soldier second from the left is a corporal. Large numbers of labourers went from Britain to France to work on roads and railways.  -The Asians here are most likely British and not Australian.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

William Poy (born in Chiltern, NSW) - his daughter was the Governor-General of Canada

REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING

the tiger's mouth

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre
Chinese Australian ANZACs - Chinese Light Horsemen - Embarkation roll A-Z

Australian Chinese Ex-Services National Reunion (ACESNR)

Dinki-di: The Contributions of Chinese Immigrants and Australians of Chinese Descent to Australia’s Defence Forces and War Efforts, 1899–1988, Morah Loh and Judith Winternitz

Dinkum Aliens: Chinese New Zealanders in World War II – Manying Ip

Dinkum Aliens

Mapping Our ANZACs

Auckland War Memorial Museum

Big White Lie: Chinese Australians in White Australia – John Fitzgerald

Blood on Borneo – Jack Wong Sue

A Matter of Honour – Documentary – Jack Wong Sue

Gallipoli Sniper - The Life of Billy Sing - John Hamilton

Two Sides of a Coin - Hunter Poon Biography

SBS Documentary – The Chinese Diggers – Teck Tan.  Last shown late 1980’s? I rang SBS and they don’t have it on their database anymore so it was shown a while back.

SBS Documentary – Not Forgotten – features the Story of Victor Lepp.  Last shown Nov 2008?

Gong for Chinese Diggers

Forgotten Soldiers of the Australian Army

Join the Asian ANZACs facebook page. 

The Colour Blind Project

From Diversity Casting Australia and Australian Stage Jobs

The Colour Blind Project is calling actors of multicultural or Indigenous backgrounds! We are looking for 18 actors, male or female, to take part in The Colour Blind Project festival in Sydney 2010. These roles are across 10 selected short works that cover a variety of themes, genres and styles. The characters are exciting, fun and provocative – stuff to really sink your teeth into and showcase your talent.

The Colour Blind Project is a brand new theatre festival aimed to showcase actors from multicultural or Indigenous backgrounds. The festival will consist of new, Australian short works and aims to change who and what we see on the Australian stage and truthfully reflect our contemporary Australian society

Please note that The Colour Blind Project is not a co-op and actors participate on a voluntary basis. Actors must be 18 years or older. The Colour Blind Project has received industry interest and will be inviting industry professionals such as media, casting agents, funding body representatives, artistic directors of major companies as well as independent theatre companies, to the performances so there is potential for your appearance in The Colour Blind Project festival to lead to many exciting opportunites!

Performances are from the 30th June – 10th July, 2010 in an Inner City venue in Sydney. Performances will be on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Registrations can only be accepted from people living in Sydney, NSW or nearby areas. Participation is on a voluntary basis so no compensation is available for travel and accommodation for participating in The Colour Blind Project.

Registration & Audition Details:
Open Audition: Sunday 16th May
Call Backs: 22nd, 23rd or 24th May

Please note that we will endeavour to see as many people as possible for the Open Audition day but as spaces are limited you will need to register for an allocated time by emailing stephanie.son@thecolourblindproject.org with a copy of your actors bio/CV, headshot. Please also specify your age range so we can allocate you a time accordingly. Location of the auditions and your time will be emailed to you once your registration has been accepted. If you do not register, we will not see you on the day if you just show up. Registrations close Wednesday 12th May, 6pm.

Please prepare a contemporary 2 minute (maximum) monologue of your choice. This can be of any genre.

Rehearsals:
Rehearsals will start from the 23rd May and the schedule will be negotiated between the actors and the Director. Location of rehearsals will be in the Inner West/City area of Sydney. You will also be required for the Tech Run on the 28th June and the Dress Rehearsal on the 29th June.

Please do not apply if you are unavailable for any of the above mentioned dates.

Yoyo champ's tilt at the big time

From The Advertiser

EACH day, Australia's best yoyoer, western suburbs teenager Vu Ho, spends an hour mastering the ups and downs of his craft.

The Mt Carmel College student, 15, started practising yoyo tricks only 18 months ago and quickly progressed from traditional favourites such as walk the dog to complicated combinations he is yet to name.


ANYC2010 1A 1st Vu Ho from YoBoY on Vimeo.

"I was on the internet one day and came across a couple of videos of people doing some pretty cool stuff with the yoyo and thought I'd give it a go, that's where it all really started," he said yesterday.

"I usually get home, do my homework and then spend an hour or so with the yoyo.

"The tricks don't really have names, they're not really your around-the-world type of thing, they're complicated to explain, I just make up my own combinations."

Vu's three-minute freestyle routine using the old-fashioned toy recently took home first place at the Australian Yoyo Championships, in Adelaide. He now hopes to represent Australia in Orlando, Florida, in August.

"My friends thought I was a bit of a loser for what I was doing at first," he said. "But now they think it's pretty wicked."

It is also not a sport without dangers.

During a recent wayward trick, Vu's yoyo flung back and whacked him in the mouth, splitting his lip.

Kylie Ryan, who works at Toyworld in the Myer Centre, Rundle Mall, said yoyos were not hugely popular but there was some demand for the toy.

"I'd say they're a steady seller and there's some very modern-looking versions. They're metallic and all sorts of colours," she said.

Vu was awarded $1500 worth of prizes for his win at the national championships and is saving to make the trip to Orlando.

ABC finally picks up on the Billy Sing debacle

It seems the ABC has finally picked up the story.  Took them long enough though,  even the BBC beat them to it.


ABC Article

Radio Australia Interview with Henry Makeham


A television casting decision in Australia has upset a group of Chinese-Australians. Billy Sing was a Chinese-Australian soldier known as the "Gallipoli assassin" in World War One. The son of a Chinese man and an English woman, Billy Sing became a hero of the Australian forces, after killing more than 200 enemy troops. His memory is cherished within the Chinese-Australian community but now a new TV drama based on Billy Sing's life has cast the lead character as a caucasian because film producers say they couldn't find a Chinese actor to play him. The Chinese-Australian community has descibed the casting decision as a betrayal of their heritage.

Presenter: Sen Lam
Speakers: Henry Makeham, National President of the Australian China Youth Association

* Listen:
* Windows Media

LAM: Henry first of all, tell us why you're disappointed by this casting decision?

MAKEHAM: Well, I guess firstly this is an opportunity to really showcase the role that ethnic Australians, particularly of Chinese origin played in the nationbuilding program in Australia and I think quite often through the historical examination of Australia, it tends to be viewed for very Caucasian men.

LAM: Have you appraoched the tv producers?

MAKEHAM: No, we have not directly, but I guess by virtue of the fact that we've had this media attention and that this story has been brought to the public attention, that in itself has been an approached form.

LAM: Well, the producers say the could not find a 60 year-old Chinese actor to play the role. Do you think they did not look hard enough?

MAKEHAM: I think it is a fairly dubious claim that they were not able to find a 60 year-old Chinese-Australian actor. To answer your question I would say yes, I do not think they did look hard enough. There certainly is enough Chinese-Australian actors out there to fill such an amazing opportunity.

LAM: Has anyone actually stepped up to the plate, as it were, and told the producers, hey look, I'm an actor, I'm Asian, I'm available?

MAKEHAM: Well it's interesting, to my direct knowledge no, but reading a lot of the blog comments and a lot of the feedback from people on the internet after seeing the article, there have been a lot of Chinese-Australian actors that have actually said I would have done this role for free. It's a great opportunity to represent ethnic Chinese-Australia in a fantastic story that should be told to the mainstream public.

LAM: And Henry, do you think the producers might be pandering to popular taste - after all, there aren't that many asians on Australian television?

MAKEHAM: Yeah, and that is one of the problems that has sprung to mind when I first heard this story, that there is potentially a stereo type of the classic ANZAC hero and I think there is a risk here that could be perceived, that this opportunity was lost in that sense that the pandered to the stereo type and that it was somewhat of an easy option out and perhaps there is also the thought that perhaps they thought they would get greater ratings by having a Caucasian actor there.

LAM: And of course the Caucasian ANZAC hero is an Aussie icon. Have you made any representation to the RSL, the Returned Services League that looks after former soldiers interests?

MAKEHAM: No we haven't, but this is something that we look forward to following up.

LAM: And do you think the producers are disrespecting true Chinese-Australian hero by casting a Caucasian in the role?

MAKEHAM: Mmm, yes, I think disrespecting is quite a strong word. I suppose firstly I want to emphasis that I do not think they are being racist or there is any malice involved, but there has been somewhat a lack of consideration with respect to the casting and I think what makes the issue somewhat more dubious, is that the director used his son, Josh, to be the lead character and I think that has tended to stimulate a bit of discussion as to whether there was somewhat nepotism involved, so I think that makes the whole situation a bit muddier.

LAM: And what message do you think this casting decision sends out to young people in multicultural Australia?

MAKEHAM: It's disappointing. I think there is a feeling that here was a great opportunity to highlight the role of ethnic Australians and the Australian nation building process, particularly a moment that is sensitive and is sacred in the Australian psyche as Gallipoli and the ANZAC spirit. So I think it sends a message of disappointment that to an extent there is a neglect of the acknowledgment of the role that we have played in Australia's nation building process.

Wheelchair lawyer Jude Lee sues Jetstar

From News

A WHEELCHAIR-bound Darwin lawyer is suing Jetstar for discriminating against him.

The Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commissioner has determined that Jude Lee has a case against the airline for making him feel like "troublesome baggage" on two separate occasions.

In documents obtained by the Northern Territory News, Mr Lee alleges that Jetstar failed to accommodate his special need and that it treated him in a less favourable manner because of his impairment, The Northern Territory News reports.

Mr Lee is a quadraplegic.

He has alleged he was told he would not be allowed to fly from Darwin to Melbourne in August last year because Jetstar's records did not say he was a "wheelchair passenger".

He said the plane had not been parked at an aerobridge and a female staff member told him the lift was broken.

A male staff member lifted him on to the plane.

Mr Lee also alleged that in January last year when boarding a flight from Singapore to Darwin he was also told he would not be allowed to board the flight - after he had checked in and was waiting at the gate - because staff did not have an aisle wheelchair.

He was again lifted on to the plane instead.

In Jetstar's response to the complaint, the airline said it agreed with Mr Lee's factual allegations, but did not agree it was in breach of the Anti-Discrimination Act.

"Given the nature of its operations, Jetstar does not have the systems, staff or facilities to provide the same level of special assistance to its passengers as provided by full cost carriers," Jetstar's reply said.

Mr Lee said he has to fly regularly for work and personal reasons, and does not have a lot of choice with airlines.

"I find myself embarrassed, harassed and having to constantly plead my case with improperly trained Jetstar staff just for the right to be treated equally and to simply board its planes almost every time I travel with Jetstar," he said in his complaint.

Speaking outside court, Jetstar head of Corporate Relations, Simon Westaway, said the airline regularly reviewed its policies and procedures to ensure that it was complying with discrimination legislation.

He said Jetstar carried more than 500 customers who use a wheelchair each week.

Ninja Fail on Australia's Got Talent

"I was a teacher for 11 years and I gave it up, and now I deliver Chinese food" LMAO

Chinese Australians angry at Gallipoli TV casting

From da BBC

Don't bother reading as it seems to be a repeat of one of the news.com.au articles

There has been an angry reaction in Australia after television producers cast a Caucasian man in the role of a Chinese-Australian war hero.

Billy Sing was a hero of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I, but a TV drama has him cast as a white man.

The producers say they could not find a 60-year-old Chinese actor to play Billy Sing's father, so both parts will be played by white actors.

They have been accused of re-writing Australian history.

Billy Sing was known as the "Gallipoli assassin", the son of a Chinese man and English woman, who became a hero of the Australian forces during World War I by killing more than 200 enemy troops.

The recipient of a Distinguished Conduct medal, his memory is cherished within the Chinese-Australian community.

That's why there's been such an angry reaction to the decision of the producers of the television mini-series, The Legend of Billy Sing, to cast a white man in the lead.

The director, Geoff Davis, actually picked his son, Josh, to play the role, and defended the decision by saying that he could not find a 60-year-old Chinese actor to play Billy Sing's father.

He therefore decided that both men should be Caucasian.

But Chinese-Australians have complained that young people will now grow up thinking that Billy Sing was white, and that is a betrayal of their heritage.

The head of a Chinese-Australian youth association said that "whiting out" Billy Sing was not only a gross historical misrepresentation but treading on the grave of a true Chinese-Australian hero.