FONG Sydney

Description

Biographical informationSydney Fong (1878-1955), merchant, was born on 24 November 1878 at Arp Lay Tsui village, Toishan district, Guangdong, China (although in many of his immigration papers he states 'Hong Kong' which was nearby). He was the son of Kong Gen Mi, farmer, and his wife Yu See. He was five six and six inches in height.

We know that he married in China, but details of his early life and first marriage are uncertain. He emigrated to Western Australia, arriving in September 1896. He lived and worked at Broome for two years before shifting to Perth.

In 1901 he moved to Geraldton and was employed by his uncle, Fong Lang, who had established the Wing On Woo & Co. store. While working there, he learned to read and write in both Chinese and English, adopted the forename Sydney. He returned to China with his Uncle, Fong Lang, in 1906. Fong Lang remained in China, but Sydney Fong returned to Geraldton in 1909.

After his first wife died in China in February 1914, Sydney Fong received approval to bring his son and daughter to Australia for educational purposes. Sadly, his son died before making the journey. Sydney Fong then brought Arthur Tack Fong into Australia as his son for Louey Ling Tack his business partner in Sydney Fong & Co. On 2nd December 1925 permission was granted for Irene and Arthur to remain in Australia after their schooling.

Sydney married Ellen Louisa Ah Moy (1895-1939) at St Peter's Anglican Church, East Melbourne, on 2 December 1914. They were to have eight children, but one, Henry, died in infancy. The family home was at 76 Durlacher Street, Geraldton.

Sydney Fong ran his own grocery shop, Sydney Fong & Co., in Geraldton, a business that he had established in January 1910. It was located in Marine Terrace and by 1916 consisted of a general store (which stocked groceries, fruit and vegetables, wine, spirits and tobacco), a fuel agency, a ship's chandlery, an import and export agency, and a small market garden which provided the store with fresh produce. The business was a partnership with Sam Been, William Fong, Joseph Sam Louey, Louey Ling Tack, Louey Wing Hung, James A. Cheong, James Fong, Andrew Been Fong, Gork Ming, and Sam Sue. This partnership was terminated in 1919.

On 16 May 1944 Sydney Fong married Lucy Ann Chung Gon at the Presbyterian Church, Oatlands, Tasmania. They lived at 53 Francis Street in Geraldton.

Sydney Fong was a highly respected member of the Geraldton community, he was an elder of St John's Presbyterian Church; he also served on the cemeteries' board and belonged to the bowling club. He continued to give generous financial support to the Church and in the 1930s he gave generously to support the building of a church in his village of Arp Lay Tsui that his uncle, Fong Lang instigated. Survived by his wife, by the daughter of his first marriage, and by the four sons and three daughters of his second marriage, Fong died on 9 December 1955 at Geraldton. He was buried in Utakarra cemetery after a large funeral at which the moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Western Australia officiated.Other nameFong, Sydney (differentiated name)SYD FONG (also known as)Date of birth24th November 1878Date of death9th December 1955