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Post by Henry on Oct 18, 2011 17:21:29 GMT -5
Douglas,
Please allow me to also add my congratulations to the Chungshan Society of Australia. It was quite heartening to see the sustained interest by local Chinese on their heritage during my past visit to Australia.
Henry
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Post by helen on Oct 18, 2011 23:18:51 GMT -5
Douglas, My congratulations to the Chungsan Society of Australia on this important occasion and the marking of a major milestone in the development of the Chungsan folks in Australia. To have your own meeting place is something special. Regards, Ah Gin Ah Gin - have you seen or heard from Geoff Young recently? He was unwell a few months back. Cheers - Helen
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Post by mugenpower168 on Oct 19, 2011 2:03:11 GMT -5
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Post by douglaslam on Oct 19, 2011 6:13:25 GMT -5
Thanks to everyone for the keen interest shown on our Society. I should have uploaded a few more photos to make the article more interesting.
The makeover costs over $300,000. When the idea was floated, no one thought we could see it through. But the new president thought otherwise. He gave a personal guarantee to make good of any shortfall in fund raising. It was very visionary, and his confidence well placed. Public donations and materials from Chungshan ensured the project went ahead, and there was even a small surplus.
Another innovation by our Society was the creation of a public memorial by acquiring many burial plots in the cemetery. At Ching Ming every year, we pay our respects to the dear departed of bygone days. Since then, many societies want to follow suit, but the cemetery management stopped it.
Ah Gin, you'll remember in one of my earlier posts I said Sze Yup people had their own very spacious club house in the heart of Chinatown, on Dixon Street itself. The richest Chinese in Australia, Bernard Chan, he leased the premises for a nominal rent of $1 / year. When he died, his son reneged on the deal, and kicked the club out. It has now been left vacant for years. What a mongrel son ! The Sze Yup Society is on rented premises I think, and buying a property in the inner city would cost a seven figure sum.
Doug my namesake, as far as I know there are no single surname associations in Sydney. Unlike Nth. America, the population base here was too small in the early days. We do have many Yang / Yeung / Young in our midst. I am sure they are from Sun Mun Ting.
What can I say about Henry ? Well for one thing, he is for real, not just someone conjured up in cyberspace. I found him knowledgeable, erudite and more. Few people have seen the world the way that Henry do. Though I have never set foot in Europe, but I share his opinion that Asia and China give you a bigger bang for your buck. Countries like Switzerland, Belgium are too orderly, clinical and sterile for my liking. I prefer bustling markets, street cooking, waterways, green fields, and animals about.
Henry, I am booked to fly out for Hong Kong, then China on November 8. I have no firm itinerary. I am sure I'll need your help to relay any posts I may have for the Forum. I am taking a superseded laptop from one of my children with me. Plenty of learning to do.
Kin, Daphne Lowe-Kelley is a Kiwi. She came out from New Zealand in the 1950s. No, she is not of Chungshan ancestry. Just like Helen, she is of Zengcheng roots.
Helen, Geoff did reply to my email when I told him my meeting with Daphne in the evening of Oct. 4. Geoff knows her well.
Thank you all.
Douglas
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Post by Henry on Oct 19, 2011 9:02:24 GMT -5
Douglas,
Thank your for your kind words. Yes, I have been very fortunate to have traveled extensively as a government official, corporate executive, and as a tourist / researcher.
No problem, I will be happy to convey your messages back to the SiYi Forum - I may be doing it from South Africa during the period when you are in China.
With Europe currently experiencing the possible impending economic crisis and possible defaults of countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain, Ireland, etc, - it will not be just a matter of money, but, with the safety issues. While, I believe traveling in China & Asia is still a much more affordable value for your money, China is also experiencing some dramatic increases. In the past year, the price of pork has increased by 50 % - so, I am sure there may be some hefty inreases in food overall.
I know my friend Douglas will travel safely and wisely - he is very knowledgeable, intelligent and clever in adapting to any situation that he might encounter.
Ciao,
Henry
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Post by Ah Gin on Oct 19, 2011 21:11:40 GMT -5
Helen,
Sorry, I am now aware of Geoff's whereabout and condition. I do hope he is well.
Regards, Ah Gin
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Post by Ah Gin on Oct 19, 2011 21:22:22 GMT -5
Douglas,
It is indeed sad to hear that the Sze Yup Society in Sydney has no place that it calls its own. Can they perhaps meet at one of the rooms at the Sze Yup Temple at Glebe. I know, it's not as convenient.
Unlike in the USA, Single Surname Association in Australia is rare, I think. In the US, we do have Gin Associations spread across major cities, e.g. Boston, NYC, LA, and of course San Francisco. I treasure and enjoy visiting our own Clan Association.
Regards, Ah Gin
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Post by helen on Oct 19, 2011 23:02:29 GMT -5
Thanks to everyone for the keen interest shown on our Society. I should have uploaded a few more photos to make the article more interesting. Helen, Geoff did reply to my email when I told him my meeting with Daphne in the evening of Oct. 4. Geoff knows her well. Thank you all. Douglas Thanks for the news of Geoff. Have a great time in China - I was thinking of spending 6 months there - maybe next year. I am working on a plan - April - October sounds good lol.
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Post by douglaslam on Oct 21, 2011 6:59:34 GMT -5
Ah Gin, Sze Yup Society does have a club house of sort thought I have yet to pay a visit. The Sze Yup temple is in the inner city, not out of the way at all. I don't think it is a suitable venue for a meeting.
Last month I was in a dinner party, sitting next to Albert Yen ( or Gin in your case ), president of the Sze Yup Society. We had wide ranging conversation on many subjects, but we never brought up on the fate of the club house. BTW in the same evening I had my first taste of Mao Tai, that fiery liquor. I had three shots. I also tasted top shelf sake from Japan plus other expensive grog.
Helen, hope you do get a chance for an extended stay in China.
I hope my next year's overseas trip is to Japan. My oldest daughter is teaching English in Fukashima, about 60 km from the nuclear plant. In the meantime, more belt tightening because Japan is going to be a lot dearer than China.
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Post by Ah Gin on Oct 21, 2011 21:25:49 GMT -5
Douglas,
I guess when I was living in Sydney years ago, Glebe seems so far away from the city. I guess you are right -- the temple is the temple, rather than a meeting place for MJ or smoking when old fellows like us sit down to chew the fat and drink tea.
As you are aware, in Sydney, the Yen / Yan family has been involved with the Sze Yup Society for a number of years. Over the years, I think various family members had occupied various key positions. They have also contributed significantly to the construction of our Clan Memorial hall in Kaiping. I also had the honour of enjoying their company in Kaiping. To think years ago I said, Zhen, Yan, Gin is a "small Sing" and we are not well represented in Australia. How wrong was I.
Let's hope the Sze Yup Society in Sydney and indeed elsewhere in the world continues to bloom.
Regards, Ah Gin
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Post by helen on Nov 17, 2011 3:34:20 GMT -5
www.chia.chinesemuseum.com.au/biogs/CH01031b.htmZhongshan County (China) Heongshan County (also used, - 1925) Xiangshan County (also used, - 1925) Zhongshan County (also used) It is well known that most Chinese people who traveled beyond China in the years before 1949 came from a handful of counties within Guangdong Province. Of these, the four counties of the Si Yi have received most attention from historians. However, a great contributor to the history of the Chinese overseas was the county Zhongshan. Zhongshan County, known as Xiangshan or Heongshan until 1925, was divided into nine localities and a census of 1910 reported the total population of Zhongshan to be more than 820,000. Sydney, Hawaii and San Francisco were the most popular destinations for people from Zhongshan, though the single locality of Long Du seems to have contributed as much as all other Zhongshan areas combined. Long Du, for example, was also one of the few localities (possibly the only one) that had sufficient numbers to organise its own associations in all three of these Pacific Ports. Another feature of Long Du is that its people speak a non-Cantonese dialect distinct from other localities within Zhongshan County.
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