New Books On Creswick Chinese
Jul 21, 2009 22:29:32 GMT -5
Post by Ah Gin on Jul 21, 2009 22:29:32 GMT -5
Fellow Chinese Heritage travelers,
on the 18th July 2009 I was involved in our Research Group's (Chinese Heritage Interest Network) Inaugural book launch, at the Creswick Returned & Services League Hall. (Creswick is a quaint, historical gold town in the State of Victoria, Australia. I have named it the Gin Village of Victoria, as there were many Gin / Yan family members who lived and died there. But that's another story.)
In attendance of the Book Launch included the local Federal Member of Parliament, President of the local Shire, councilors, local historical society management and members, Creswick Museum management, representatives from Ararat Museum (Ararat is reputed to be the only city founded by the Chinese on the way to the Victorian Gold Field), Bendigo (another gold town, termed by the Chinese pioneers "Big Gold Mountain") and Ballarat Chinese Society representative. The launch was by a staff member of the Monash University, Victoria, Australia, Dr. Kier Reeves, who is a well regarded historian, with a number papers, heritage projects behind his name. So our group felt quite honored for all the attention.
The two books launched were:
Book 1: Chinese in the Creswick Cemetery. Headstones & Inscriptions. A Cultural Interpretation. 134 pages.
"This book is designed to be a reference book for the budding Australian family historians with little knowledge about Chinese Headstones and its related cultural matters -- hence the title. We translated each headstone at the Creswick Cemetery, Chinese Section. In addition to the "usual" sources of historical data available on public records, we also shared with the readers other possible less accessible sources of data used to pin point Chinese pioneers we were looking for, and that included temple records, donation boards, Jiapu/Zupu. We also managed to track down some descendants of the Chinese pioneers, now living in China."
Book 2: "Coronial Inquests & Magisterial Inquiries. Creswick Chinese (1856 to 1905) 195 pages.
"In this book, we collected 104 Inquests and stories associated with these pioneers who died during that period, and who had an Inquest recorded. There are some very sad stories, but there are also some very heart-warming stories about the struggle of the Chinese pioneers. We do remember that during that period, the Chinese and some other nationalities were not treated very well by the Colonial Masters. And of course during part of that period Transportation was very much the order of the day for the poor folks of Mother England. And of course, back in China, its Trading Doors were forced open just so that the overseas traders could sell opium to China, in return for tea and other commodities. "
The books are as a result of 5 years of research by our not-for-profit Chinese Heritage organisation. Along the way, we met some very kind and helpful folks.
More on the way.
Regards, Ah Gin
on the 18th July 2009 I was involved in our Research Group's (Chinese Heritage Interest Network) Inaugural book launch, at the Creswick Returned & Services League Hall. (Creswick is a quaint, historical gold town in the State of Victoria, Australia. I have named it the Gin Village of Victoria, as there were many Gin / Yan family members who lived and died there. But that's another story.)
In attendance of the Book Launch included the local Federal Member of Parliament, President of the local Shire, councilors, local historical society management and members, Creswick Museum management, representatives from Ararat Museum (Ararat is reputed to be the only city founded by the Chinese on the way to the Victorian Gold Field), Bendigo (another gold town, termed by the Chinese pioneers "Big Gold Mountain") and Ballarat Chinese Society representative. The launch was by a staff member of the Monash University, Victoria, Australia, Dr. Kier Reeves, who is a well regarded historian, with a number papers, heritage projects behind his name. So our group felt quite honored for all the attention.
The two books launched were:
Book 1: Chinese in the Creswick Cemetery. Headstones & Inscriptions. A Cultural Interpretation. 134 pages.
"This book is designed to be a reference book for the budding Australian family historians with little knowledge about Chinese Headstones and its related cultural matters -- hence the title. We translated each headstone at the Creswick Cemetery, Chinese Section. In addition to the "usual" sources of historical data available on public records, we also shared with the readers other possible less accessible sources of data used to pin point Chinese pioneers we were looking for, and that included temple records, donation boards, Jiapu/Zupu. We also managed to track down some descendants of the Chinese pioneers, now living in China."
Book 2: "Coronial Inquests & Magisterial Inquiries. Creswick Chinese (1856 to 1905) 195 pages.
"In this book, we collected 104 Inquests and stories associated with these pioneers who died during that period, and who had an Inquest recorded. There are some very sad stories, but there are also some very heart-warming stories about the struggle of the Chinese pioneers. We do remember that during that period, the Chinese and some other nationalities were not treated very well by the Colonial Masters. And of course during part of that period Transportation was very much the order of the day for the poor folks of Mother England. And of course, back in China, its Trading Doors were forced open just so that the overseas traders could sell opium to China, in return for tea and other commodities. "
The books are as a result of 5 years of research by our not-for-profit Chinese Heritage organisation. Along the way, we met some very kind and helpful folks.
More on the way.
Regards, Ah Gin
