Lena's Photo of the Week

Family photo with Fong Li Kim and Gee Hong Yet taken at Mataranka, NT.

If anyone can tell us who the children are that would be wonderful!!

enjoy!! x

Fong Sui Wing (& Family) - On CHIA website

Fong How and his family members are mentioned on the Chinese-Australian Historical Images in Australia (CHIA) Website. http://www.chia.chinesemuseum.com.au/biogs/CH00950b.htm

It's more from Rev Shui Kwong Lo's unpublished manuscript 'From my Darwin notebook' that Jason posted about previously (from information from Barbara Fong).

Photo of Vice regal visit to the Northern Territory about 1905 Gathering at Residence of Chinese merchants. The importance of Chinese businessmen and merchants was illustrated when the town's notables met visiting dignitaries. This was the case in 1905 when South Australia's governor, Sir George Le Hunte, visited Palmerston.

Back row L-R: Lloyd Herbert, Mrs Herbert, Sir George Le Hunt, Aide de Camp, Lady Le Hunt, Mr Justice Herbert.
Middle row L-R: CHIN MEE LEUNG of Wing Cheong Sing, CHIN PAT MOW of Yam Yan, ? (obscured), FING HOW of Wing Wah Loong.
Front row L-R: CHIN KIM KEE of Chin Leong Hen, CHARLIE YEE of Kwong Lee Cheong, BANG BEN of Cheong Woo, YUEN YET HING of Yet Loong, CHIN TOY of Fang Cheong Loong. Location: Esplanade Palmerston Port Darwin - Year 1905'
------------------------------------------------------- According to Rev Shui Kwong Lo's unpublished manuscript 'From my Darwin notebook' written 1941-1989 Fong Sew Hau (also called Fong Sui Wing and Fong How) arrived in Palmerston in 1885 from Bamboo Gully, Ling-Boi, Toi-shan [Taishan] district in Kwang Tung [Guangdong] province.

Soon after arriving he established a business in Darwin called Wing Wah Loong that operated till at least until c1910. According to Stone and Steele he also established three other businesses - Wing Chong Loong in Pine Creek, Win Chong Kee in Katherine and a business in Mataranka.

He had twelve children. Rev Lo lists the names of five sons and two daughters.

Sons (eldest to youngest): Fong-Kang-Tong, Albert Fong-Kang-Yuen [also called Albert Fong], Charlie Fong-Kang-Man [also called Fong Gang Ming, Charles Gang Ming Fong or Charlie Fong], Eddy Fong-Kang-Hung [also called Eddy Fong] and Fong-Kang-Sam).

Daughters: Fong-Chui-Kam (also called Fong Choi-Kam who became Mrs Chee-Hung-Yat) and Fong-Chee-Seen (who became Mrs Lee Forday). In 1892 he adopted two girls from Toishan and brought them out to Australia. One of these girls was Mrs Lum Loy, also known as Granny Lum Loy, Nu Moo or Lu Moo.

Australian Newspapers Online Resource

WOW!

Last night i found a whole lot of amazing information on the Gee, Chee & Fong family on the National Library of Australia's 'Australian Newspapers' Website (Its an online database of Historic Australian Newspapers, 1803 to 1954).

Go there now!... http://ndpbeta.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/home

Well worth poking around... It seems to yields results on broad searches (Gee, Chee, Fong), but putting specific names helps narrow results.

The picture is an Advertisement (c1925) of Gee Hong Yet's fathers store (It seems Chee Poon was spelt Chee Pon... and his other names are Chee Kee Kan and/or Gee Kee Gan... which is info found on that site!). That tailors eventually become Gee Hong Yet's (... again new info found on that site!). .

Here's some more juicy tidbits on there...

• Li Kim (Gee Yet) is mentioned in an article because she introduced Pneumonic Influenza to the town!
• Gee Hong Yet's brother, Gee Kwong Yet, was arrested for having 100x illegal birds (finches!?)!.
• There's lots of probable/possible stuff on Fong How's other moniker, Wah Wing Loong, which was the name of his store. But i have some confusion on that.

Check it out!!!

Lena's photo of the Week - Hong Yet / Li Kim Family Portrait

Hi All!

Donna Gee here.

Welcome to my contribution to this blog which i'm going to call... Lena's Photo of the Week!... This is where i'll share Lena's Photo collection, that i inherited, with you all.

Please comment with any info you have on the photo's posted as i don't really know much about them myself (except for the odd photo with lena's scribbles on the back... which were done when her memory was not the greatest.).

There are lots of great photos for you to enjoy so check back often.

First photo is a Family portrait which seems to have all members in it except for Virginia and William

Hong Yet / Li Kim Family Portrait

From our guess work pictured (left to right) is :
Back row : David, Ernest, Edwina
Front row : Glenda, Lena, Hong Yet (Fred), Li Kim, Doris, Maurice

Gee Hong Yet / Fong Li Kim Ancestor Chart

Following is the Gee Hong Yet / Fong Li Kim Ancestor Chart.



As you can see much more is known on the Fong side of the family then the Gee (or Chee).

Hopefully we can build on what is there!?

Gee Sik Tung (Ernest?)

Gee Sik Tung - 7 years of age in 1928
Introducing Gee Sik Tung... who from his birth date i assume is Ernest Gee? (birth date listed as 1 Apr 1921, though i have Ernest as being born 1921?!?).

Gee Sik Tung, son of Gee Hong Yet (Fred) and Fong Li Kim (Gee Yet). Also known as Gee Sick Tung.

The following is gathered from: [Certificate of Exemption from Dictation Test - Gee Sick Tung] [son of Gee Hong Yet and Gee Yet formerly Li Kim (#1595849) http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1595849&I=1&SE=1

Gee Sik Tung - Born in Darwin 1 Apr 1921. 7 years of age at time of travel. His first overseas trip travelling to China for education. Had a Scar on left temple.

Application to visit Hong Kong, China for 60 months. Made 21 Aug 1928 (book447/9)

Departed 24 Aug 1928. Returned 3 Feb 1930

Gee Hong Yet, father, listed as Storekeeper.

Declaration made by a Felix Spain. of Darwin, Hairdresser. Declaration states "That i am in the habit of seeing the said Gee Sick Tung every day playing about the streets with other children" and "That the parents of Gee Sick Tung reside opposite my place of business in Cavanagh Street, Darwin".

GEE Hong Yet (Fred) & FONG Li Kim (Yet Gee)

Gee Hong Yet (Fred) is the son of Chee Poon. He was born 1895. He died on 08 Oct 1975. He was also known as Ah Yet Chee, Fred, Chee Hong Yat, Hung Yet.

Fong Li Kim (Yet Gee), his first wife, is the daughter of Fong How (Fong Sui Wing) and Fong Young Shee (?). She was born 1899 in Darwin. She died on 03 Mar 1961 in Perth. She was also known as Yet Gee, Lai Kim, Oi Jan.

They had 9 children.
1. William GEE. Born 1913.
2. Lena Maureen GEE. (Choy Fung Gee) Born Darwin 25 June 1915. She died on 04 Jul 1996.
3. Ernest GEE. Born 1922. He died on 13 Dec 1961.
4. David Robert GEE. Born 1925.
5. Doris Gee. Born 23 Sep 1928.
6. Maurice Frederick Gee. Born 1936
7. Edwina GEE (Winky).
8. Glenda GEE.
9. Virginia Gee

Related Links.
From the NAA website:

Certificate of Exemption from Dictation Test - Gee Yet (#1592942)
http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1592942&I=1&SE=1

Certificate of Exemption from Dictation Test - Gee Yet (#1592191)
http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1592191&I=1&SE=1

Certificate of Exemption from Dictation Test - Gee Yet] [ nee Li Kim or Lee Kim or Fong Lai Kim (1595924)
http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1595924&I=1&SE=1