Mantova, utca. community during the early years of Federation. He became the leading Chinese in the district and a respected member of the Wangaratta community. 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. 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. 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. [9] (1908) 7 CLR 277. in Little Bourke Street or attending one of the city theatres His father had taken him to China when he was about five years old. [5], 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. Tel: +61 3 9479 1315 William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination. the subject of 'Reconciliation between Eastern and Western Australia's first Chinese barrister William Ah Ket was born in the Victorian country town of Wangaratta. of 'building bridges between the East and West.'. His father had taken him to China when he was about five years old. 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. the Consul-General for China, Dr. W.P. First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we He was a sound lawyer and a good advocate". Ah Kets legal team successfully proved that the Chinese man was not an employee of the laundry but instead a boarder at the laundry and that he had simply been ironing his own shirt! "And if nobody had stood up, like William Ah Ket, to protest against them then they might've passed.". With paternal ancestry from Taishan, southern China, Ah Ket was Australia's first barrister of Asian heritage or ethnicity.He was born on 20 June 1876 at Wangaratta, Victoria, the only son and fifth child of Mah Ket and Hing Ung.He was an alumnus of the University of Melbourne.On 16 November 1912 he married Gertrude Victoria Bullock at the . 16Isabel Carter,Woman in a Wig: Joan Rosanove, QC (Lansdowne Press, 1970), 13. He said that "William Ah Ket did not ever sit on the Bench, though he would have been a very competent judge. In a passage that is still recognised as current law in Australia, Justice OConnor stated as follows: It is improbable that the legislature would overthrow fundamental principles, infringe rights, or depart from the general system of law, without expressing its intention with irresistible clearness [10], 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.'[11]. 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. Ah Kets legal team successfully proved that he was not a prohibited immigrant. 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. 6Citing Karin Derkley, William Ah Ket Legacy Recognised (2018) 92(3) Law Institute Journal 83 at 83, 84. invited scholars from interstate and overseas to deliver the He was an alumnus of the University of Melbourne. Australia, by putting into practice his personal philosophy family. Ah Kets legal team successfully proved that the Chinese man was not an employee of the laundry but instead a boarder at the laundry who had simply been ironing his own shirt! William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination. 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]. 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. in Melbourne, publicly opposed discriminatory laws against amendments to the 1896 Factories & Shops Act to Our data centers have been designed from the ground up to be some of the most efficient data centers in the world. 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. He went to the bar 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.3. William was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination. Tune in as The History Listen explores his story. Prior to completing his tertiary studies at Melbourne University, William received a full primary and secondary education in Wangaratta's public schools. [13] Isabel Carter, Woman in a Wig: Joan Rosanove, QC (Lansdowne Press, 1970), 13. in 1982 and is currently writing the biography of her father. Celebrating Asian Australian Lawyers: From William Ah Ket to Today, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ah-ket-william-4979, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54dd81c6e4b074b4a339bb2e/t/, 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. 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. Despite Ah Ket's legal nous, he still faced prejudice, often from his own clients. 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My father, William Ah Ket rose to prominence in the 1900s-1930s In the 1970 book The Measure of the Years by Australia's longest-serving prime minister, Robert Menzies, he referred to his colleague and friend Ah Ket as "a phenomenon at the Victorian Bar" but that "a certain prejudice among clients against having a Chinese barrister to an extent limited his practice . 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. It was customary for them to celebrate the various anniversaries He said that "William Ah Ket did not ever sit on the Bench, though he would have been a very competent judge. by Sir Colin MacKenzie and were brought to fruition through to win the reluctant approval of the bench with his propensity 3See William Lye OAM, Introduction to William Ah Ket at the Victorian Bar and Scholarship (William Ah Ket Inaugural Scholarship Launch at Maddocks, 21 November 2017), available at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54dd81c6e4b074b4a339bb2e/t/5a1409caf9619a97a1396f77/1511262667464/WILLIAM+AH+KET+launch.pdf. 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. [3] He was neither appointed Silk nor a judge. Imagined by, Understanding internal and external evidence in interpretation of claims, Legal risks and strategies for ending a tenancy early, Tips for insolvency administration of NEEQ-listed companies, Applying estoppel, dedication rules in drug patent linkage dispute, Ongoing developments with follow-on antitrust lawsuits, Legal risks of one-day trip into SCSZs for deemed exports, Fees to please: Flexible and innovative fee structure for Hong Kong arbitration, Prerequisites, exemptions for fledgling personal bankruptcy system, Bankruptcy reorganisation: revealing an investment window, Save time and money with pre-reorganisation rescue planning. Dr Couchman says the changes William spoke out against were "very invasive". Asian Studies Program Both William Ah Ket and his wife were music-lovers and regular William Ah Ket (, 20 June 1876 - 6 August 1936) was a noted Australian barrister. He believed his objective William Ah Ket was Australia's first barrister of Asian heritage or ethnicity, born in Victoria in 1876. 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. The first barrister of Chinese descent practising at the Victorian Bar was William Ah Ket. 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. [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. as the local 'mandarin' and Law Courts Interpreter, and prospered times, William Ah Ket was affectionately regarded as the Chinese He was a co-founder of the Australian-Chinese Association and one of two delegates from the Chinese community in Australia to the opening of the Chinese national parliament of 1912. He said that "William Ah Ket did not ever sit on the Bench, though he would have been a very competent judge. His father had taken him to China when he was about five years old. Th my scam n ni ng r xc phm g cu. of Germany's fascism and Japan's expanding military aggression "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. William Ah Ket [] was born in Wangaratta in the state of Victoria, Australia, in 1876. 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. 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. 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. Following his youthful introduction to country horse-racing This Australian law-related biographical article is a stub. He fought against the requirements of the 1907 Factories (Employment of Chinese) Act, which discriminated against . The marginalised group has shifted but it's not that distant.". On top of that work, William also had to deal with racism. Burns or Gilbert & Sullivan. to Australia, William Ah Ket was appointed as Acting Consul-General Once completed, the Eagle Mountain Data Center will be a nearly 2.4 million square foot campus. 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. Special thanks to Jennifer Wood, Kate Bagnall, Pauline Rule and the National Library of Australia for helping with research. His mother, Hing Ung, had bound feet and spoke no English. 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. paper is based on a paper she gave at the Conference of the Chinese Studies Despite his high profile and achievements, it would seem that others were advanced while he was not. Fulfilling his fathers wishes, William studied law at the University of Melbourne. Chinese language. 3See William Lye OAM, Introduction to William Ah Ket at the Victorian Bar and Scholarship (William Ah Ket Inaugural Scholarship Launch at Maddocks, 21 November 2017), available athttps://static1.squarespace.com/static/54dd81c6e4b074b4a339bb2e/t/5a1409caf9619a97a1396f77/1511262667464/WILLIAM+AH+KET+launch.pdf. English-born forebears had migrated to Australia from Cheshire He became the leading Chinese in the district and a respected member of the Wangaratta community.. 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. 2Helen Penrose,To Build a Firm: The Maddocks Story (Maddocks, 2010), 11. Liu in Sydney who both obtained generous financial support all born in Australia to his Chinese parents. Contact Us, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7. 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. 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). He was a sound lawyer and a good advocate". ROMEO Ha az lom hzelked emnek Hinnem lehet, mindjrt rm knt rm. 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. of his time who could mix with ease, and enjoy widespread 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. Neither of us will ever be made a judge, you because you are a woman. William was educated in Wangaratta, and on gaining his matriculation 6Citing Karin Derkley, William Ah Ket Legacy Recognised (2018) 92(3) Law Institute Journal 83 at 83, 84. 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. He was born on 20 June 1876 at Wangaratta, Victoria, the only son and fifth child of Mah Ket and Hing Ung. Educated in both English and Chinese cultures, he agitated against racial intolerance in Victoria and defended the rights of Victoria`s Chinese community. respect, not only within his legal fraternity, but within If Monument Australia is useful to you, please make a donation to keep this historical and educational resource available. government's repeated attempts in 1904, 1905 and 1907 to make 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 was particularly active in the fight against racial discrimination and appeared in many 'public interest' cases. kind of lectures at the Australian National University that The reason why the Chinese laundry owner had been charged was that a Chinese man had been found in the laundry between 9 and 10 pm at night ironing a shirt, apparently in breach of the after-hours work prohibition. William Ah Ket made history when he signed the bar roll. Andrew and MLS would be delighted if any readers have information about William that they would like to share. Toylaan Margaret Allen,his last surviving child, passed away in New South Wales on 16th July 2015. [7] William Ah Ket Scholarship 2019, Program (9 October 2019). Jamieson in 1903. 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. Victoria 3086 [2] William stayed involved with the University and was elected the President of the Law Students Society on 19 April 1907. Life. choice would be a controversial play at The Little Theatre, "There was definitely a fresh wave of discrimination that was being put in place," she says. William was survived by his wife Gertrude Victoria (nee Bullock) and four children Dr. William, Stanley, Melaan and Toylaan. 7Citing Sir Robert Menzies,The Measure of the Years (Cassell Australia, 1970) at 249. such a reputation for his canny tactics as a cross-examiner. 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. 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