FONG Lucy Ann (female)

Description

Biographical informationLucy Ann Chung-Gon was born 26 October 1902 at Turners Marsh, Tasmania. She preferred to be called Ann. She was the ninth child of James Chung-Gon (aka Chungon or Chung On) and Mary Ying Lee. The family lived on a farm at Turners Marsh. They later moved to a shop at Elizabeth Street, Launceston. Ann ran a greengrocer shop in Brisbane Street, Launceston that her father had established and her sister, Dolly, did the books.

Ann visited China and Japan in 1930 and again in 1937. On her return to Tasmania in 1937 she became the organising secretary for the China Relief Club, established in Launceston to provide relief to Chinese under Japanese occupation. Around 1943/1944 Ann was involved with raising funds for the Red Cross by performing magician acts and sending the proceeds back to Hong Kong.

She married Sydney Fong on 16 May 1944 at The Campbell Presbyterian Church, Oatlands Tasmania. The Tasmanian Premier, Mr Cosgrove and Mrs Cosgrove, were guests at the wedding reception. She was Sydney’s third wife. She moved to Geraldton in Western Australia, where Sydney Fong had extensive business interests. Their family home was in 53 and then 51 Francis Street Geraldton, Western Australia.

In February 1948 Ann accompanied Sydney Fong on the MV. Gorgon on an extended holiday visit to China. They visited Singapore, then Sydney’s village of Arp Lay Tsui, then Hong Kong and Shanghai to visit Sydney’s eldest daughter, Irene.

Ann was made the Divisional Commissioner of the Girl Guides in Geraldton, and she met the Queen on the royal visit to Geraldton on 24 March 1963. Ann ran the Pekin Gift Store in Marine Terrace Geraldton for many years. During that time she would often visit her family interstate after her husband passed away in 1955.

Towards the end of her life, Ann returned to Tasmania. She made a large donation of her mother’s garments, including Chinese silk clothes and bound shoes, to the Queen Victoria Museum, Launceston.

She died on 27 May 1999 in Southern Cross Nursing Home, Hobart, Tasmania and was buried in the Chung-Gon family grave in Carr Villa Memorial Park Launceston.
Other nameLucy Ann Chung-Gon (also known as)Ann Chung-Gon (also known as)Ann Fong (also known as)Date of birth26th October 1902Date of death27th May 1999

Photograph and slide

Person

Fong Lucy Ann. Family photograph generously shared by Ai Lin Piccini (nee Chung-Gon).

Family

SpouseFONG Sydney

Connections

Subject (organisation)MV Gorgon IISubject (place)GeraldtonTurners Marsh, Tasmania Subject (topic)Chinese heritage in Western AustraliaRelated collectionAnne Atkinson CollectionCelebrating 200 Years - National Foundation for Australia-China Relations Project

Item information

ContributorSchool of Social SciencesSource of informationJames Chung-Gon Family WebsiteExaminer Newspaper, Wed 22 Dec 1937, Page 7The Mercury Newspaper, Wed 23 Feb 1938, Page 10Examiner Newspaper, Fri 23 May 1947, Page 5Information provided by the Fong and Chung-Gon Families

UWA Collected

FONG Lucy Ann (female)

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA