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Work | Leaving
& staying | Leisure |
Beliefs | Dress
| Food
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Subthemes:
gambling | opium
smoking | picnics | music
| sport | social visits
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As Chinese settled in regional New South Wales, one of their leisure
activities was involvement in competitive and recreational sport.
There are reports of their participation in horse racing as owners,
jockeys and spectators. There are also memories and photographs
of their participation in sports like hockey, football, tennis and
swimming. Increasingly, the sportsfield became an arena in which
Chinese and European Australians mixed with each other outside working
hours.
 Taking
time out for a swim in Inverell, early 1930s. (Private collection)
From left to right in the photograph are Albert Yum, Ted Lumbewe,
and Owen Ling.
Sam Woo who worked at the Hong Yuen store in Inverell during the
1930s, recalled the weekends when a number of the young men would
drive to Tingha:
There were old dams out there they had for mining. They used
to be full of water. We'd put these cork floats on and go and swim
in the dam with the geese and the ducks.
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 Playing hockey at
the Hon family residence in Tenterfield, early 1930s. (Private collection).
From left to right: Alf Mee Lee, Ora Hon, Abbie Yum, Hona Hon, Merle
Hon and Reg Yum.
Social life for many Chinese in regional New South Wales during
the first half of the twentieth century focused on meeting with
other members of the Chinese communities in their own towns or in
neighbouring centres. Visits were common. Games of social sport
were one way of meeting and spending time with friends.
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 North west rugby league team sponsored by Tommy Young
from the Sam Kee store in Tingha, early 1930s. (Private collection).
Back row, left to right: Trevor Jack (Inverell), Abbie Yum (Inverell),
Harry Tet Fong (Tingha), Tommy Young (Tingha), Colin Bing On (Inverell),
unknown. Front row, left to right: Sam Tet Fong (Tingha), Billy
Manwar (Inverell), Ray Tong (Inverell), Billy Tet Fong (Tingha),
Gordon Bing On (Inverell), unknown.
Organised sport attracted participation and support from Chinese-Australians.
Football teams were sponsored by some Chinese storeowners.
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