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Samuel Gung, Son of Chinese Migrants (1920-1993)
Image: Drivers Licence - Victoria, Issued to Samuel L Gung, 18 May 1951
Source: Museum Victoria
Samuel Gung was born in Carlton, Melbourne, in 1920, and is the son of Chinese immigrants, Yun Ping and Sydney Louey Gung. At a young age, Samuel left his family and travelled to China to live with relatives and complete his education.
During World War II, Samuel served with the US Forces in Fiji and China until he was captured by the Japanese and imprisoned in a camp, from which he later escaped. Following the war, Samuel married Mary Louey Gung (Mark Wai Kuen) and had two children, Ling Po (Phyllis) and Wing Young (Jeff). In 1947, the young family decided make the long voyage to Australia: during the journey, Jeff contracted whooping cough and was threatened with being thrown overboard by the Captain who feared contagion among the rest of the passengers. Fortunately, Jeff made a full recovery and the family arrived safely in Melbourne. Samuel went on to work for his farther, Sydney, at The Geraldton Fruit Company and became the proud father of three more children.
Years later Samuel and Mary became friends with the Honourable Arthur A. Calwell, Australia's first Minister for Immigration (1945-49) and author of I Stand by White Australia (1949), an article defending the deportation of non-European refugees granted temporary residency during World War II. Over the years, Calwell was to become a good friend of the family and to advise them on how to apply for Australian citizenship.
Samuel died in 1993 and is buried next to his parents in the Melbourne General Cemetery.
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Drivers Licence - Victoria, Samuel L Gung, 18 May 1951
Drivers Licence No 738 037 issued to Samuel L Gung on 18 May 1951 certifying he could drive a motor car on any public highway in the State of Victoria for the year ending 16 May 1952. ...
From: Ascot Vale, Australia Images: 4 -
Photograph - Gung Family & Dog, Victoria, circa 1948
Black and white photograph is of Samuel and Mary Louey Gung, their three children Jeff (Wing How), David and Phyllis (Ling Boo) Gung and the family dog, about 1948 in Melbourne. The Gun ...
Images: 2 -
Letter - Australian Citizenship Registration Approval, J.L.W.H. Gung, 03 Apr 1963
Letter from K J Smith, Commonwealth Migration Officer for Victoria, Department of Immigration to Mr J L W H Gung of Ascot Vale on 3 April 1963. It details that his registration as an Au ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 2 -
Application Form - Aliens entering Australia in Overseas Vessel or Aircraft, Commonwealth ...
Three forms issued by the Commonwealth of Australia for 'Aliens entering Australia in Overseas Vessel or Aircraft'. The forms have been filled in by Samuel Gung for his wife, Mary, and ...
From: Canberra, Australia Images: 8 -
Certificate - Aliens Act, Department of Immigration, Wing Henry J Louey Gung, 1947
Certificate No. 899958 issued by the Department of Immigration, Commonwealth of Australia. It was issued to Wing Henry J Louey Gung (Jeffrey Gung), son of Samuel and Mary Louey Gung. Je ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 4 -
Certificate - Extract of Entry, Victorian Government, 24 May 1955
Extract of Entry issued by the Victorian Government on 24 May 1955 to state that 'Samuel Gung was born at Carlton on 4th June, 1920'. Samuel was born in Carlton in 1920 to Chinese pare ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 2 -
Form - Multiple Listing Bureau of Victoria, Samuel Louey Gung, Sep 1964
Form issued by the Multiple Listing Bureau of Victoria to Samuel Louey Gung for 24 Madura St Ascot Vale, dated September 1964. Samuel was born in Carlton in 1920 to Chinese parents. At ...
From: Ascot Vale, Australia Images: 4 -
Flyer - 'With the Compliments of the Honorable Arthur A Calwell', Department of Immigratio ...
Flyer issued by the Honorable Arthur A Calwell MHR, Minister for Immigration, on 17 January 1949. Despite his often strict interpretation of the White Australia Policy, Arthur Calwell w ...
From: Canberra, Australia Images: 1 -
Letter - Australian Citizenship Registration, Mrs M Wei Kuen Gung, 6 Dec 1962
Letter from K J Smith, Commonwealth Migration Officer for Victoria, Department of Immigration to Mrs M Wei Kuen Gung of Ascot Vale on 6 December 1962. Stating that her registration as a ...
From: Ascot Vale, Australia Images: 3 -
Letter - Child Endowment, NE McKenna, Minister for Social Services, to Honorable AA Calwel ...
Letter to the Minister for Information and Immigration, The Hon A A Calwell MP, from N E McKenna, Minister for Social Services, dated 15 January 1949. The letter details concerns by Sam ...
From: Canberra, Australia Images: 2 -
Receipt - Melbourne General Cemetery, Samuel Louey Gung, 13 Mar 1954
Receipt issued by the Melbourne General Cemetery (No 10144) to Samuel Louey-Gung on 13 May 1954 for payment of Plot Presbyterian NA 644. Plot size - 8 x 4 feet. Cost - 18/8. Samuel was ...
From: Ascot Vale, Australia Images: 2 -
Membership Card - The Young Chinese League, Samuel Louey Gung, Melbourne, 1946-1947
Issued by the Young Chinese League, Melbourne to Samuel (David) Louey Gung as proof of membership for 1946-1947. Samuel was born in Carlton in 1920 to Chinese parents. At a young age he ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 3
