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Moy, William (Bor Nam) (c. 1893 - 1987)

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    Wedding of Albert (Albie) Quay and Joyce Fong in Geraldton
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    Wedding of Lim On in Launceston Tasmania, around 1900. Seated boy is William (Bor Nam) Ah Moy, later called Bill Moy., c. 1900, courtesy of Chinese Museum (Museum of Chinese Australian History).
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    Wedding of Bill Moy (Bor Nam) of Ruby Flat, Tasmania to Ethel Tong, c. 26 February 1927
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Born
c. 28 January 1893
Ruby Flats, Tasmania, Australia
Died
2 September 1987
Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Alternative Names
  • Bonurn Ah Moy Ng (also used)
  • Mouy, Bor Nam (also used)
  • Moy, Bill (commonly used)

Details

If the age on his marriage certificate is correct William (Bor Nam) Moy was born c1893. This certificate also lists his parents as Loong Kee Ng Moy, a miner and Hong Lee Chee. He spent his early years and adulthood in at Ruby Flats, near Branxholm in Tasmania, where in partnership with Tas Kincade, he owned and operated a tin mine. He also worked as a timber worker and was highly respected by the community.

He met his future wife, Ethel Tong whilst visiting the Bendigo Easter Fair in about 1924. They were married at St Paul’s Church of England in Bendigo on 26 February 1927. The couple lived briefly at 155 Latrobe Street in Melbourne before moving to Geraldton in Western Australia where they settled and had six children, three boys and three girls: Norman, Wilma, Tasman, Noela, Alan and Janice.

After living with his sister and brother-in-law, Sydney Fong, for a short time, Bill and Ethel moved to a two-roomed cottage at 90 Gregory Street, Geraldton which became a seven-room family home with plenty of verandah space. Bill built all the extensions to the house himself. He worked for the rest of his life doing different jobs at the Fong store in Marine Terrace which was run by his brother-in-law, Sydney Fong. The store sold fruit and vegetables and Bill used to collect orders from local people by bicycle.

William Moy’s descendants remember him as being humble, quiet and popular with all who knew him. He was blessed with an inquiring mind and was a thorough newspaper reader. He was an exceptional handyman, well-known for being able to repair anything and also maintained an excellent vegetable garden.

Sources used to compile this entry: Noela and Brian Hassell, unpublished brief biography of Ethel Tong and Bill Moy, 1999; Personal communication Brian and Noela Hassell, 19 July 2001.

Prepared by: Sophie Couchman, La Trobe University

Family

Related Families

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Published Resources

Book Sections

  • Couchman, Sophie, 'Tong family networks revealed through the camera's lens', in Sophie Couchman (ed.), Secrets, Silences and Sources: Five Chinese-Australian Family Histories (La Trobe Asian Studies Papers), Asian Studies, La Trobe University, Melbourne, 2005, pp. 47-53. Details

See also

Images

Title
Ah Moy and family
Type
Photograph
Date
c. 1900
Place
Australia - Tasmania
Details
Title
Wedding of Albert (Albie) Quay and Joyce Fong in Geraldton
Type
Photograph
Place
Australia - Western Australia - Geraldton
Details
Title
Wedding of Lim On in Launceston Tasmania, around 1900
Type
Photograph
Date
c. 1900
Place
Australia - Tasmania
Details
Title
Wedding portrait of Bill Moy (Bor Nam) and Ethel Tong with Charles Moy and Rose Moy
Type
Photograph
Date
c. 26 February 1927
Place
Australia - Victoria - Bendigo (Sandhurst)
Details

Created: 22 March 2003, Last modified: 24 January 2009