Biographical informationFong Sam Gracie (née Lee Leong) was born in Cairns, Queensland, in July 1904. She was the daughter of Lee Leong Jimmy (b. 1882, d. 1967 Atherton, Queensland) and Lee Leong Mary Cheung (b. 1883, d. 1957 Atherton, Queensland). She had three brothers, all in Queensland (Albert Edward Lee Leong, James Lee Leong & Percy Henry Lee Leong).
She married Fong Sam in Broome in 1923 (BDM 1100004/1923). She was the mother of Amy, Ellen, May, Percy and Mary.
She applied for a CEDT in 1927, intending to travel with daughters Amy, Ellen and baby Amy, but did not use it.
She travelled overseas with her husband and all five children in April 1936. They had originally intended to leave for China in May 1935 but Gracie was refused an Australian passport (Refer NAA digitised file: E601, I1951/33, Item ID 3354135). She subsequently applied for a CEDT used for her April 1936 voyage. She returned with four children in October 1937. Fong Sam had returned to Western Australia in November 1936. Amy appears to have remained in China as her CEDT was extended to April 1946.
She lived at Broome and died there on 20 October 1971.Other nameFong Sam, Gracie (differentiated name)Lee Leong, Gracie (also known as)Date of birth23rd July 1904Date of death20th October 1971
Gracie Fong Sam (nee Ah Leong) pictured around the age of 23 on a Certificate Exempting her from the Dictation Test that she did not use to travel (source: National Archives, K1145, 1927/3)