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Her mother-in-law remained with Essie until her death on the 18 October 1950 at the age of 70. Life was manageable
with the help of the older children who were working, but due to the many stresses as a sole parent, ill health and
the cold winters that did not suit her, Essie returned to Darwin with her son Doug and three younger daughters in
May 1955.
After living a short time with her dear sister Linoy and family, she finally moved into a new home in Fannie Bay
on New Year ’s Eve 1956 which her son Doug had built and where she was to remain until her death. Essie thrived
in the Darwin climate and continued to care for her younger children. She was happiest when surrounded by
children and always maintained that one did not require money to be happy, but to have children around, one could
always laugh. She always had a great sense of humour and was always told by her children that her talents had been
wasted as she could always copy and mimic anyone. It was this sense of humour that carried her through the tough
times and even when food was short she could always stretch it to feed another mouth. Her son Eddie was often in
the habit of feeling sorry for someone and bringing him or her home unexpectedly at meal times.
There was always enough to go around even if she ate a little less herself. She always taught her children that
it was better to give than to receive, and although a pensioner always managed to donate to all the worthy causes.
She was small and slim and always impeccably dressed and in her later years when all the children were married
and able to spoil her a little more, she would never venture out without her hat and bag.
Another major event that affected her life was Cyclone Tracy. She had experienced the 1937 cyclone and
often spoke of the strong winds and the sheets of galvanised iron and the great fear that had remained. She had
always told her children every wet season to always have a bag ready with spare clothes and important papers
kept together, and to have containers of water. This advice was always brushed aside, but after Tracy, all could
see the wisdom of the advice. Her son Doug’s elevated house like the majority in Darwin was swept away and
Essie was left on the floorboards with only a few grandchildren and relatives clinging to each other for support.
They were totally left to the mercy of the elements with walls, furniture, and all manner of debris flying around
them. All survived without the need of even a band-aid and this gave her another reason to continue her prayers of
thanks. As in the other major events of her life, Essie bounced back again, only worrying about others. It was more
than a year before her son Doug rebuilt his home and so for her remaining years Essie was able to enjoy a life with
her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren around her.
She managed to travel a bit which gave her great joy, even returning to the Yuen village in Shekky in China for
the opening of a school dedicated in the memory of her father-in-law the Darwin merchant Yuen Yet Hing.
She died in Darwin on 11 July 1991 at the age of 89 survived by nine children, 29 grandchildren and 12 great
grandchildren. At her funeral, Dr David Lo described her as ‘having astonishing courage, tenacity, patience and
determination’—she was indeed a remarkable and gracious lady. For all who knew her it was indeed a privilege;
she radiated great love and compassion and was constantly and gently guiding her family to be ‘more caring,
loving, and honest human beings’. She overcame all the hardships and tragedies that she had encountered from
her early years like a true pioneering woman of the Territory: the loss of her son, being widowed at an early age,
surviving the 1937 and 1974 cyclones, the terrifying war years and the discrimination shown to Chinese at that
time. Her life was not in vain, as her teachings continue down the generations to her latest great grandchildren.
She was proud to see her grandchildren all receive a good education, something that was not possible in the earlier
days and see them graduating in the fields of medicine, science, accounting, marketing, law, mechanics, teaching
and in business.
Family information.
GLENICE YEE, Vol 3.
YUEN YET HING (YET LOONG) (1853–1916), businessman, was born in the village of Shekky in the Province
of Zhongshan south of Canton in 1853.
Yet Loong arrived in Australia between 1876 and 1878 at the age of about 24. He was brought out by
certain mining companies and rose from the ruck to the position of one of Darwin’s leading Chinese merchants.
He returned to China on numerous occasions and was to marry three times. His third wife was Low See, and their
eldest child of seven was Ernest Charles Tue Fun Yuen. Yet Loong arranged the marriage of Ernest Charles to
Essie Sue Ching Moo when he was just 12 years old. Low See replaced the first wife who had died. This was
important as being a replacement first wife allowed her the privileges and benefits of a first wife and not as a third
wife who would be left with many of the chores of everyday living. She was one of the few Chinese women to
arrive from China, and perhaps one of the last, who had the small bound feet. This was a custom done in early
childhood to females of wealthy families as they were not required to do any menial tasks and were always waited
on by servants. Low See died in Sydney on 18 October 1950.
The gold fields were to play a large part in Yet Loong’s life. He was involved as an individual owner and as
head of a syndicate of a group of Chinese. His mining interests included the Cosmopolitan, Pine Creek battery, the
Union Mines, Woolwonga battery, and the Mullans Christmas mine purchased from V V Brown for 220 Pounds.
On 18 December 1891, Yet Loong & Co. purchased most of Millars Union Reef’s machinery and leases for
1 000 Pounds. Within a few months of purchasing Union Reef from the Millar brothers, Yet Loong’s syndicate
recovered gold to the value of 4 000 Pounds. Yet Loong’s syndicate purchased the Mullins Christmas claim in
February 1894. In 1895 Hugh Watt, a London speculator on a visit to the Territory, negotiated with various
Chinese owners to purchase a number of claims and batteries. Yet Loong sold his Christmas claim and battery at
Pine Creek. Two mining leases recorded in Yet Loong’s name were Tenement numbers 343 and 425 at Pine Creek
and the records show how great his involvement in the gold fields was and how well his interests prospered.