Harry Chan
The Right Worshipful Harry Chan OBE | |
|---|---|
 Businessman, mayor and politician Harry Chan from Darwin, Northern Territory. | |
| 6th Lord Mayor of Darwin | |
| In office 1966–1969 | |
| Preceded by | |
| Succeeded by | Harold "Tiger" Brennan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hen Fook Chan 14 June 1918 Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Died | 5 August 1969 (aged 51) Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse(s) | Lilyan Yuen |
Hen Fook "Harry" Chan OBE (14 June 1918 – 5 August 1969) was an Australian businessman and politician who was mayor of Darwin.
Serving from 1966 to his death in 1969, he was the first ethnic Chinese mayor of Darwin.[1]
Early life[]
Chan was born in Darwin on 14 June 1918, son of Chan Fong Yuen, a migrant from the Chinese province of Kwangtung and mother, Wong Quee. Chan married Lilyan Yuen, 18 January 1941. They had three sons and a daughter, the eldest and Lilyan were evacuated on the SS Zealandia in late 1941.
Businessman[]
Chan and his wife opened a store in a Sidney Williams hut in Smith Street, later leasing the land to Woolworths which was built on the corner of Smith and Knuckey streets.
Politician[]
In 1959, a Darwin City Council by-election for the Fannie Bay Ward gave Chan his first chance at politics, he won by a large margin. After working hard for the ward, the ward system was abolished in 1962. He decided to run for the Fannie Bay Electorate in 1962 for the 8th Legislative Council defeating four other candidates in an electorate of few Chinese voters thus establishing a great advertisement for the racial tolerance that was a feature of Darwin in those days.[2] Chan was first elected President of the 9th Northern Territory Legislative Council in 1965 which he held until his death.[2] During his time as President he also held the role of Mayor of Darwin from 1966–1969.
References[]
- ^ Heatley, A. Harry Chan (1918–1969). Australian Dictionary of Biography. ANU. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ a b Walker, F. (Fred) (1984). A short history of the Legislative Council for the Northern Territory. Darwin: Government Printer. pp. 60, 75–79. ISBN 0724508287.
Other links[]
- 1918 births
- 1969 deaths
- Members of the Northern Territory Legislative Council
- Chinese-Australian history
- People from Darwin, Northern Territory
- Australian Anglicans
- Australian politicians of Chinese descent
- 20th-century Australian politicians
- Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire