Format: Oral history

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In collection

UWAHS Colombo Plan Oral Histories

Subject (organisation)

The University of Western Australia

Contributor

University Archives

Audio

Interviews (6)

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Chang, Kok Foo Oral History - Colombo Plan Interview Series

Description

DescriptionInterview with Kok Foo Chang as part of the UWAHS Colombo Plan Interview Series

Topics

Family background. Schooling in Sandakan, North Borneo. Job Prospects. Sabah College, Kota Kinabalu. Applying for Colombo Plan Scholarship.
Arrival in Perth on 22 February 1962. Getting to know Perth. Full board in Leederville while Matriculating at Leederville Technical College. Engineering course at UWA from 1963-1968. Kingswood College (1963-1965). Private accommodation in Hillway, Nedlands. The Engineering Faculty – location and subjects. Staff, students, teaching and workshops. Rivalry with Law Faculty.
Borneo Students’ Association. Social life. Cinema and picnics. Crabbing in Mandurah. Vacation work at Cockatoo Island, Yampi Sound. Visit home at the end of 3rd year. Graduation in 1969. Meeting and then marrying his wife Sylvia in September 1968.

1968-1970: KFC appointed as Assistant Mechanical Engineer at the Fremantle Port Authority.
1971-1974: KFC returns home to Sandakan with his wife Sylvia and is employed as Port Manager of the Saba Port Authority. KFC and his wife remained in Sandakan for 19 years. All three children were born in Sandakan.
Discussion of KFC becoming a Captain in the Malaysian Territorial Regiment in response to the 1969 race riots.
1975-1978: Project and Property Manager for a construction company. Using his engineering knowledge.
1975: gains Certificate in Accounting from Royal Society of Arts in the UK.
1979-1982: Assistant General Manager for a timber logging and exporting company.
1983-1989: works for a Life Insurance Company.
Why the family decided to leave Sandakan to live in Perth.
KFC returned to live and work in Perth in 1989. He studied for a Graduate Certificate in Asian Business at Edith Cowan University. Part-time work as tax agent (1990-1996) and as an interpreter for the Department of Immigration (1991-1996).
Reflections on how Perth had changed in the 19 years he had been away.
1996: Interpretation work in Darwin and Port Hedland and how he became “Colonel”.
1996-2020: Chinese Liaison Officer and Administrative Assistant with the WA Police Service (Note: no recollections recorded on this)
KFC visits Engineering Department at UWA. His three children study Commerce at UWA. KFC’s 50 year reunion on 21 November 2020. The cost of living as a student – then and now. Part-time jobs. Discussion of KFC’s involvement in the scouting movement (1950-1961). Queen’s Scout Badge. 10th World Jamboree.

Date createdBetween 17th February 2021 and 19th February 2021In collectionUWAHS Colombo Plan Oral Histories

Audio

Kok Foo Chang Interview 1 - Part 1 of 3 - 17/02/2021

Kok Foo Chang Interview 1 - Part 2 of 3 - 17/02/2021

Kok Foo Chang Interview 1 - Part 3 of 3 - 17/02/2021

Kok Foo Chang Interview 2 - Part 1 of 3 - 19/02/2021

Kok Foo Chang Interview 2 - Part 2 of 3 - 19/02/2021

Kok Foo Chang Interview 2 - Part 3 of 3 - 19/02/2021

Photograph courtesy of UWAHS

Connections

InterviewerJulia WallisPerson interviewedKok Foo ChangSubject (organisation)The University of Western AustraliaSubject (topic)Colombo Plan

Access

Access rights25/25 - Oral History Recording Agreement Form - Chang, Kok Foo - 17/02/2021 & 19/02/2021

Item information

ContributorUniversity Archives

UWA Collected

Chang, Kok Foo Oral History - Colombo Plan Interview Series

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA