Phyllis Wang interviewed by Diana Giese for the Chinese Australian Oral History Partnership collection [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 2117003
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Wang, Phyllis, 1913-2005, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2000 Oct. 18
- 3 digital audio tapes (ca. 153 min.)
- Series:
- Chinese Australian Oral History Partnership.
- Summary:
-
Mrs Phyllis Wang (Wang Shu Kan) recalls her arrival in Sydney with her husband, Martin Liang-kwen Wang in Aug.1937; her husband's work as Chinese Vice-Consul in Sydney for 5 years (1937-1942); her husband's transfer to Melbourne as Consul (1942-1950); her husband's subsequent promotion and return to Sydney in 1950 as Consul-General for the Republic of China; the official functions they attended, such as the opening of Parliament in Canberra; meeting Prime Minister Menzies, Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt & Queen Elizabeth. Mrs Wang speaks about the many changes she and her husband had observed in Australia China relations, culminating in the Communist revolution and the establishment of the People's Republic of China (1949); the Cold War and then in the early 1970s, the normalization of relationships between the two countries.
Mrs Wang born in Nanjing, then the capital of China talks about her childhood in a large family home with several generations in comfortable financial circumstances; the old Chinese family traditions; girls' limited education in China; having negotiated to be able to study a year of medicine at Nanjing University before doing the midwifery course; early married life to her diplomat husband and being posted to Palembang (Dutch East Indies in 1934); a posting to Saigon, 1936; a trip on board a ship from Hong Kong to Australia, 1937; later when Australia and China were both at war with Japan, which resulted in them losing touch with their families in Nanjing; her reasons for establishing the Chinese Women's Association in Sydney, 1954; Mr Wang establishing the Trans-Global Travel Service which organised tours to China & business travel in 1962; the differences in Chinese & Australian lifestyles, manners and customs; being able to reunite with members of their family after some 40 years.
- Biography/History:
-
Phyllis Wang, was the founder of the Chinese Women's Association and wife of the former Consul-General, Republic of China.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on Oct. 18, 2000 in Sydney, N.S.W.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia;
- Related Material:
- Cuttings and photographs; located at; National Library of Australia Manuscript collection MS 9530.
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Transcript (6 p.) available. Timed summary available.
- Subject:
-
- Wang, Phyllis, 1913-2005 -- Interviews
- Chinese Australians -- Interviews
- Chinese Australians -- Social life and customs -- 20th century
- Diplomats' spouses, Chinese -- New South Wales -- Sydney -- Interviews
- Diplomatic and consular service, Chinese -- Australia
- Australia -- Foreign relations -- China
- China -- Foreign relations -- Australia
- Other authors/contributors:
- Giese, Diana, 1947-, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Chinese Australian Oral History Partnership.
This collection contains 17 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2070 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2000
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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