By Arthur B.W. Yong, B App Sc JP
In 2003, Arthur B.W. Yong coordinated and edited a book for the North Eastern Melbourne Chinese Association (NEMCA) on Chinese settlement in Darebin.
First published in July 2003, ‘Chinese Settlement in the City of Darebin’, records the experiences of Australians of Chinese descent. They live, work and study in the City of Darebin. There are nineteen stories on the lives and contributions made by the Chinese for over 100 years from Market Gardeners to University Lecturers. These stories give some insight into the lives of Chinese Australians in Darebin.
Arthur Yong, Vice President of NEMCA, the project coordinator and editor of the book, his team of volunteers and 3CW Radio, organised the launch at the Preston City Hall on Saturday 24 January 2004. Members and friends of NEMCA, staff of City of Darebin and 3CW Radio assisted setting up the hall and tasks of Master of Ceremony. On that day, it included the celebration of the 10th Anniversary of NEMCA, Chinese New Year and Australia Day. Dr Stanley Chiang, President of NEMCA and a councillor of City of Darebin, welcomed guests, participants and China performers of Tsinghua Yiyou Chorus to Australia.
Guest Speaker of the book launch was Associate Professor Richard Broome, History Program, School of Historical and European Studies, La Trobe University.
Brendan Marks, descendant of the Wotjobaluk tribe of Wimmera Region of Victoria, performed for the official opening of the celebration. Many distinguished guests gave speeches. They included Cr Peter Stephenson (Mayor of City of Darebin), Cr Cathy Hayes (representing Mayor of City of Whittlesea), Cr Catherine Ng (representing Lord Mayor, Cr John So), Senator Tsebin Tchen (representing Prime Minister, John Howard), Martin Ferguson AM MP (representing Opposition Leader Mark Latham), Lily D’Ambrosio MP (representing Minister John Pananopoulos, Minister Assisting the Premier for Multicultural Affairs), Mr. Tian Jun-Ting (Consul General of The People’s Republic of China) and a representative of Central Equity Group.
Arthur Yong gave a short speech how he compiled the stories and thanked the contributors, sponsors and all the people, who assisted the project.
There were hundreds of NEMCA members and invited guests watched a variety of different entertaining, colorful and cultural performances for the celebration. NEMCA Choir sang Waltzing Maltida with local parliamentarians, councillors and guests on the stage. Romiosini Dance Group performed Greek Dance. Gruppo Culturale Italiano sang a few Italian songs. Macedonian Women’s Social Club in Whittlesea performed Macedonian folk dance. Carol Appelt performed German classical music on flute. Maria Bistrin and her friends performed Egyptian dance. Members of Tsinghua Yiyou Chorus sang Chinese songs. NEMCA members performed singing, dancing and Chinese garment fashion parade.
Members of NEMCA displayed their artworks of Chinese calligraphy and paintings n the hall. There was a demonstration of care of Bonsai. The Victorian Multicultural Commission, Central Equity Group, La Trobe University, Twin Parks Hostel for Senior Citizens Reservoir and Shanghai Food P/L proudly sponsored this special multicultural event. The Darebin City Council, Orient Bonsai Nursery Reservoir, Oriental Kingdom Restaurant and SBS Radio (Mandarin) supported the celebration.
The celebration continued with social dance featuring “The Swingsters”. There was a door prize competition, sponsored by Central Equity Group.
Arthur Yong subsequently won the Victorian Community History Awards 2004, in the category of Best Collaborative and Community Work, on behalf of North Eastern Melbourne Chinese Association, for his involvement of the community-writing project and the book of Chinese Settlement in Darebin.
Reference
Yong, 2003: A.B.W. Yong (ed.), Chinese Settlement in Darebin, (ISBN 0-9751074-1-0), North Eastern Melbourne Chinese Association Inc. December 2003, pp. 1-98.
