In Memory of Edie Hoy Poy
(1927 to 2011)
Funeral Notice
Messages Photo Gallery
The Executive Committee
and Council of Elders of the Chung Wah Association mourn the loss of Edie Hoy
Poy 阮丽茹,
best known as "Mother of Chung Wah",
who worked tirelessly and selflessly with the Association and the wider ethnic
Chinese community for more than half a century. You remain an inspiration, an
example for thousands of our members. You will always remain in our hearts. Rest
in eternal peace.
Edie Hoy Poy OAM, the Inspiration
The Hoy Poy
family played many important roles in Chung Wah Association since its inception a
hundred years ago.
Mr.
Yuen Hoy Poy
阮霭培
came to Australia from
Zhongshan, Guandgong province in 1890 at the age of 19. His Chinese name was
misinterpreted by an Australian official, wrongfully recording Yuen as the first
or given name, and Hoy Poy as the family surname, and the surname has remained
ever since.
By 1919 Mr.
Hoy Poy had his own furniture business in James Street. He was one of the
founders and benefactors of Chung Wah Association when it was founded in 1909.
Though Mr. Hoy
Poy returned to China, his fourth son Royce Hoy Poy
阮雷
(known fondly as Roy in
Chung Wah) became Chung Wah President. Roy was born in Nedlands in 1920, and
joined the signals corp during the War at the age of 19. In 1946 he returned to
Port Hedland, where he met Edie, whom he married on the 14th
of April, 1951 at the St. Hilda Church in Perth. With the White Australian
Policy in full swing, there were very few ethnic Chinese in Perth. Nevertheless
about 20 ethnic Chinese, including the President of Chung Wah, Alex Shem and his
brother Harold attended the wedding.
With the
change of policy after the war, more Asians, including students came to Western
Australia, Roy and Edie Hoy Poy became the driving forces behind the revival of
Chung Wah after the “hibernation” period. Roy was President from 1970 to 73, a
member of the executive council for 5 years, a life member and a member of the
Council of Elders. He passed away in 2003 at the age of 82.
Edie
grew up in Port Hedland in 1927 in one of the small communities of Chinese,
Malays and Japanese who lived and worked in the north of Western Australia. As
an Australian-born Chinese, her father was one of many Chinese who came to
Australia prior to Federation, often as indentured labour. They and their
families remained, in spite of the White Australia Policy, and were part of the
many different races and nationalities which had always lived in small numbers
in the State.
For more than
half a century Edie Hoy Poy served the ethnic Chinese community tirelessly. As
one of the Australian born ethnic Chinese, she experienced first hand what it
was like to grow up under the White Australian policy and was a staunch
supporter of multiculturalism. As an energetic, outspoken worker, Edie has
addressed such wide ranging issues from citizenship, housing, health, aged care,
employment and training, community safety, leadership, to welfare and
educational opportunities. Since 1977 Edie began to organise “Chinese New Year” in
Perth. Edie was one of the driving forces in Chung Wah Age
Care Services since its inception, when in 2000 the Association successfully
applied for government funding for some of our programs. Edie became the
first life member of the Association in 1977. Edie was also a member of the
Council of Elders and a Trustee.
Edie's husband
Royce HOY POY
(known fondly in Chung Wah as Roy) became President from 1970 - 1973. Edie
continued to work with succeeding Presidents, Ken WONG SUE (1973 - 1976), YEE
Kee Yong (1976 - 1979), Albert YUEN (1979 - 1980), Dr GOH Bean San (1980 -
1982), YEE Kee Yong (1982 - 1985), Albert HWEE (1985 - 1986), Dr Eric TAN
A M (1986 - 1990), Dr GOH Pek Cher (1990 - 1991), Dr Michael KWEK (1991 - 1993),
James CHONG (1993 - 1998), Tien Shang SU (1998 - 2000), Thomas GOH (2000 -
2003), Richard C.W. Tan (2003 - 2008), as well as Tien Shang Su (2009 - 2011)
over a period of forty years.
In April 1988
Edie was personally vested the
Order of
Australia Medal by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Government House Ballroom,
for her services to the
Chinese community.
Edie was selected as
an Ambassador for the United Nation’s International Year of the Older Person in
1999.
In 2001 Edie
received the
Australian Centenary Medal.
In 2002 Edie
received the WA Multicultural Ambassadors Award.
In 2003 Edie
was named the WA Citizen of the Year.
In 2007 a
street in Northbridge (quite close to the Chung Wah Association) was named
HOY POY Street as a recognition Edie's contribution and help towards the Northbridge
area and its people.
The Edie Hoy Poy Volunteering Award for
Ethnic Communities,
created by Volunteering Australia, recognises an outstanding
contribution to volunteering in the “Culturally and Linguistically Diverse” (CaLD)
communities of Western Australia.
Edie is one of the names on the City of Perth
St. George’s Terrace Commemorative Plaques for 1990-1999
Written by Y. S. Yow (Senior
Vice President) |
