The Global Search for Education: Ying Chu's Exploration of Heritage and Resilience in Australia

Posted By C. M. Rubin on Jul 8, 2024

This month, audiences can screen Chinese Pioneers on the Planet Classroom Network. The film is curated for the Planet Classroom Network by KIDS FIRST! Film Festival.

Chinese Pioneers, directed by Ying Chu, explores the challenges faced by the first Chinese pioneers in Australia and the formation of the Chung Wah Association to combat xenophobia.

This historical film highlights the resilience and contributions of the Chinese community, offering a powerful narrative of cultural integration and community building.

The Global Search for Education is pleased to welcome Ying Chu.

Ying, what inspired you to create a film about the first Chinese pioneers in Australia?

As a first-generation immigrant in Australia, when I arrived in this new community during the first year, I felt lonely and helpless, mainly because I was not good at speaking English. I recognized that if I wanted to integrate into a new society, finding people with the same background would help me. Therefore, when I started my film journey, the Chinese community was the first topic I wanted to explore and introduce to audiences.

How did you research the historical context and experiences of the Chinese pioneers for the film?

When I started this project, the local library and state library were my first points of contact. However, I found that the libraries didn’t have many resources about early Chinese immigrants, so I contacted local Chinese organizations to find more information about early Chinese immigrants in Western Australia (WA). Kaylene Poon, the historical adviser of the Chung Wah Association, helped me a lot. She provided me with valuable information and photos about her family and experiences. Through her sharing, I became certain that I needed to make this documentary to contribute to the Chinese community in WA.

Can you discuss the significance of the Chung Wah Association and its impact on the Chinese community in Australia?

I started contacting the Chung Wah Association in 2019. I joined a dance group to learn Chinese dance and met many women from different backgrounds who all appreciate Chinese culture. The Chung Wah Association provides a space for people to connect with Chinese heritage. I think the association is like a root; it carries the values of earlier generations and allows later generations to follow. In my view, this is the essence of history and the significance of documentary film.

What message or themes do you hope audiences take away from watching Chinese Pioneers?

I hope that Chinese Pioneers will provide audiences with an understanding of our identity and origins, particularly for local audiences. Moreover, I aim to help international audiences recognize that there is a group of Asian individuals who have significantly contributed to the promotion of their cultural heritage in Western Australia.

Thank you, Ying.