Museum aims to highlight country's fabric

Colin Mackerras, a distinguished Australian sinologist, said the contribution of Chinese to multicultural Australia has been "enormous".

"Chinese have been coming to Australia for centuries, and in the early days their contribution in the northern part of Australia was more than in the more populous south," he told China Daily.

"They endured very great discrimination, and mostly belonged to the downtrodden classes, yet showed the Chinese spirit of persistence.

"In more recent times, the number of prominent Chinese Australians has grown greatly, and there are now many doctors, lawyers, business people, academics and teachers who are Chinese.

"The academics I know range over various fields - science, humanities, medicine, economics and business. At least two universities I know of have Chinese deputy vice-chancellors.

"Earlier this year I was invited to a big dinner designed and planned by prominent local Chinese people with the aim of raising money for bushfire relief. That seems to me a major contribution to multiculturalism. It shows a wonderful multicultural spirit, and I think it is typical."

There are museums dedicated to Chinese history in Melbourne and Ballarat, Victoria, and other places where Chinese people have settled, but not in Sydney.

The later part of the last century saw an influx of Chinese moving to Australia. It coincided with Australia's push to portray itself to the world as a multicultural society.

"A lot of people who were involved back then, including me, are getting old and many of us felt the need to record our stories, thoughts and feelings," Yu said, "Otherwise, it would be lost for future generations."

"I remember when I was a boy, I went to Fort Street Boy's High School, in Petersham (inner Sydney). At that time there were just two Chinese kids. Today the school is coed and the student population is something like 50-60 percent Asian, including Chinese. That just shows how much Sydney has changed."

Yu, like many of this generation, said there was racism in Australia.

"But personally, I didn't experience any of it ... perhaps, it was my middle-class upbringing. Yet you heard stories from time to time.

"It is sad that some young Chinese feel persecuted or discriminated against. This has been made worse recently with the COVID-19 pandemic."

Yu said he is not unique.

"Many Chinese just get on with life and are involved in their communities ... they make good citizens. And I think we need to record these not only for the young Chinese coming up but for all Australians.

"Young Chinese Australians need to feel proud of their Chinese heritage. When you feel good about yourself, it doesn't matter what other people think or say."

Chinese people have made a valuable contribution in shaping the modern multicultural Australia of today, he said.

"My hope is the museum will help people better understand the history of Chinese settlement. It is a partnership. I would like to think we have contributed something to the country we call home."

karlwilson@chinadailyapac.com