Rural Australia, family businesses and rebellion connect Marie and Wally’s families but there is much that is different about their families’ experiences too.
In this episode Sophie speaks with family historian Marie Hammond, whose father worked as a market gardener, cabinetmaker and finally ran a general store in Red Cliffs (Vic). We discuss an oral history recording with Wally Kwan whose father ran a general store in Stanthorpe (Qld) which was part of the large Kwong Sing & Co network of rural stores.
Further reading:
- Marie Hammond, ‘Finding my Dad’, Chinese Australian Family Historians of Victoria website, 2021.
- Harvey Young, ‘Percy Young and Kwong Sing and Company‘, Golden Threads website saved in the Way Back Machine. Percy Young was Wally’s grand uncle.
- ‘Storekeeping‘, Chinese Australian Historical Images in Australia (archived), further resources about Chinese Australians and storekeeping.
- ‘Furniture making industry‘, Chinese Australian Historical Images in Australia (archived), further resources about Chinese Australians and the furniture making industry.
- Oral history recordings with Chinese Australian in Australian public collections, compiled 2023, hosted by CAFHOV
Featuring:
- Dr Sophie Couchman, Professional Historian and Curator
- Marie Hammond, Chinese Australian Family Historians of Victoria
- Wally Kwan (1926-2020) interviewed by Sophie Couchman for the Museum of Chinese Australian History in 2011.
- Music composed and performed for the podcast by Dr Wang Zheng-Ting.
- Final audio mastering by Nat Grant.
Full Transcript
Transcript in progress. Available soon.
This episode was created with in-kind support from the Museum of Chinese Australian History, the Chinese Australian Family Historians of Victoria, Dr Sophie Couchman and Nikolaus Yee.
This project gratefully acknowledges the Local History Grants Program and Public Record Office Victoria, supported by the Victorian Government through the Community Support Fund.
Sophie Couchman 
