FONG Melvin Kenneth

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Biographical informationMelvin (known as “Mel”) was born on 29 November 1916 at Geraldton and was the second child of Sydney Fong and Ellen Louisa Fong (nee Ah Moy).

He attended Geraldton Public School and later Geraldton High School and Scotch College in Perth from 1932-35, where he was a prefect, Captain of Tennis, and a member of the “Reporter” staff. Later in 1936 he studied at Bradford Technical College (Yorkshire, UK) seeking to gain experience in all branches of the wool trade.

In 1939 the Geraldton Guardian and Express reported (Sat 12 Aug 1939 Page 2) “In addition, to obtaining the College diploma, he was awarded the City and Guild's diploma, the City and Guild's full technological certificate and the first-class City and Guild's design and color certificate…. and entitle Mr. Fong to the degree of A.T.I. (Associate, of the Textile Industry)…. Having completed his course of training, Mr. Fong is now in Sweden for the purpose of endeavouring to obtain further practical experience in the textile industry.”

On his return to Australia he became a textile engineer and undertook research work in Melbourne and was later Manager at the woollen mills in Melbourne, Daylesford, Victoria and Orange, New South Wales. His eldest daughter Jacquie states “I believe he was the most highly qualified Australian born textile designer of his era…. Such were his creative skills that he soon rose to the top of his profession and was internationally recognised. In the late 1960s and 1970s he designed a number of fabrics which were first for the Australian market. He was suitably rewarded when his company received an award from the Textile Council of Australia for a fabric he designed which was a new development by world standards." (Source: Jacquie Wong: "No regrets”, chapter in Sybil Jack et al. (eds) 2012 "Chinese Australian women's stories").

Melvin married Joyce Lim on 24 April 1942 at Scots Presbyterian Church, Melbourne and they had 2 daughters. They relocated to Sydney in the 1960s and lived at Rose Bay. Melvin died 5 August 1982 in Sydney, and his ashes are interred at St Marys Anglican Church, Waverley, New South Wales.
Date of birth29th November 1916Date of death5th August 1982

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