JET FAR Edward

Description

Biographical informationJet Far Edward was born on 21st April 1907 in Perth. He was the son of Monching (Mong Ching See Howe) and Mary Sam (Mary Howe) daughter of Hea Sam and Sing Tay. He appears to have gone by the name of Eddie Monching.

He lived with his parents at Fremantle. In July 1912 he travelled to China with his father. His father returned to Western Australia in February 1913 but the date of Edward's return has not been determined. On his return he lived in Sydney.

Edward had a very Australian upbringing and may not have been able to read Chinese characters. In the early 1920s when his father was in China and with failing health, Edward's half-brother Si Tao Tung was managing their father's James Street shop and market garden in Balcatta. Considerable effort was spent to obtain permission for Si Tao Tung to remain in Western Australia permanently but efforts were unsuccessful. When Customs Officers asked Mong Ching See Howe if eighteen-year old Edward would be able to take over the businesses, his father apparently advised that Edward was, "too young and inexperienced to take charge of the business."

[Refer to Si Tao Tung's naturalisation file that has been digitised by the National Archives of Australia (NAA: A1, 1925/11274

After arriving in Sydney, he married and adopted a son, Ron. His wife, Dorothy, died in September 1966 ('The Biz', 14 September 1966). They lived at 20 Green Avenue, Smithfield at the time of Dorothy's death. Edward Jet Far died in Sydney, date not known (but after 1966).Other nameJet Far (Edward) (differentiated name)Eddie MonchingDate of birth21st April 1907

Person

HOWE Mary (female)

HOWE Rose (female)

MONG CHING SEE HOWE

Document

Situation in China - as seen by former Perth pupil

Significant place

RelationPlace of birthPlacePerthDate1907

Family

ParentMONG CHING SEE HOWEHOWE Mary (female)SiblingHOWE Rose (female)Other relativeHEA SAMSI TAO TUNG

Connections

Subject (place)FremantleJames Street, Perth20 Green Avenue, Smithfield, SydneySubject (topic)Chinese heritage in Western AustraliaRelated collectionAnne Atkinson Collection

Item information

ContributorSchool of Social SciencesSource of informationAsian immigrants to Western Australia, 1829-1901 (Atkinson, 1988)

UWA Collected

JET FAR Edward

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA