Recalling a gentleman
A MAN who survived three war-time bombings and went on to become the clerk of the Territory Legislative Assembly and president of the Darwin RSL has been remembered as a true gentleman.
Raymond Chin OAM, died peacefully on Thursday morning, aged 90.
Darwin RSL vice-president Peter Mansell said there were not many left like Mr Chin.
‘‘ He was a bloody true gentleman,’’ Mr Mansell said.
‘‘Just the type of bloke you don’t see very often these days. He was a down-to-earth, honest, humble man. He will be sadly missed.’’
In an interview with the NT News last year about his experiences in World War II, Mr Chin described himself as an ‘‘old bugger’’.
In 1977 he was awarded a Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Medal and in 1996 the Order of Australia Medal recognising his service to the Chung Wah Society, which he chaired for 14 years.
He also served Legacy, was a life member of Darwin Bowls Club and Darwin RSL president from 2001 to 2005.
In 2005, Mr Chin became the second person in the 88-year history of the Darwin Returned Services League to be awarded the highest national honour — the Meritorious Service Medal.
Historians Peter and Sheila Forrest wrote that although he was born in Canton, in southern China, on June 11, 1923, Mr Chin had an impeccable Territory pedigree from day one — his grandfather Chin Toy having come to Darwin from China in 1883, and establishing himself as a businessman.
But because Mr Chin and his older brother were born in China, they only had fiveyear visas to come to Australia because of the White Australia Policy, so in 1932 he went back to Canton to school, later gaining visas to come back.
The Forrests wrote that in 1928, a then five-year-old Mr Chin was at Darwin Public School when his teacher, Miss Bell, asked his name.
His name then was Chin Pak Jing and he and his brother Chin Pak Koon had just arrived from China.
‘‘ Pak Jing! That’s not a very good name for a boy. We’ll call you Ray. And Pak Koon, you can be called Eric,’’ said Miss Bell.
Mr Chin was working in his grandfather’s store next to Christ Church Cathedral when the bombing of Darwin began on February 19, 1942.
It was not the first time that he had witnessed an air raid. In 1937, he had been at school in Canton when the Japanese bombed that city.
After the second raid on Darwin, he was evacuated to Katherine along with his grandfather. He thought he would be safe more than 300km south of the coast, but here Mr Chin witnessed a third Japanese bombing raid.
The family evacuated to Adelaide and Mr Chin joined the RAAF — after being refused entry to the army due to his height — and served as a rigger/ mechanic with No.15 Bomber Squadron, and saw action in New Guinea.
He spent five months as an aircraft mechanic in the 15th Squadron and was involved in the Wewak campaign, before the end of the war.
He managed the family restaurant from 1946 until 1947 when he married a Melbourne girl, Olive Dan, and they ran a shop down there.
In 1951 they returned to Adelaide and Mr Chin worked for Trans Australian Airlines (now Qantas) for two years before he and Olive came home to Darwin.
Mr Chin joined the public service and studied at night school to qualify for permanency and in 1968 joined the Legislative Council staff and was clerk assistant in 1974, deputy clerk in 1978 and then clerk in 1982 for almost two years before his retirement.
His wife died in 1977. He married Jade in 1981. He was one of 11 children for Sam Chin and Suewah Chin. He was father of Brian, Janice and Diane; as well as grandfather of 11; and greatgrandfather of three.
The funeral will be held at the Christ Church Cathedral at 10am on Thursday, followed by an internment at Darwin General Cemetery.