ACFSTAS

Brief history of the Society

On 4th December 1964, a public meeting was held in Hobart to hear a talk from Dr Edith Emery on “China Today”. She prompted a group to establish a Tasmanian branch of the Australia-China Society. The inaugural meeting was held on 15th January 1965. On 5th March 1965, a constitution was adopted and the first officers elected: Bishop G F Cranswick, an Anglican Bishop of Tasmania who had worked in China became the first president; Vice President, Dr Edith Emery; Secretary, Mrs G C Lasch, and Treasurer, Denny Jacob. Denny Jacob had already visited China in 1953 and 1963. He later became Tasmanian President and a National Vice President. Claudio Alcorso became the Patron.

A northern branch was founded in Launceston in 1965 and closed in 1997.

Early activities included slide shows and films, lectures by National President Prof CP Fitzgerald, Han Suyin in 1975 and by Dr Ma Heide in 1981. There were talks by recently returned visitors, and exhibitions of photos, art and craft. The Society also provided speakers and resources to schools, and sourced English Teachers for China.

Professor Bruce Johnson became President in 1972 and was also a National President. He first visited Fujian in 1980. Tasmania and Fujian established the Sister State relationship in 1981. Following this, there have been many exchanges, support programs, agreements and visits to Fujian on many levels. Professor Bruce Johnson organised exchanges of children’s paintings and writing and donated cartons of several hundred books to schools, colleges and universities. ACFS donated $7,500 for teaching equipment, resources and furniture for schools in rural areas.

Professor Johnson arranged exchanges and agreements between the Biology departments of the University of Tasmania and Fujian Normal University, where he had taught for a year in 1983.

In the 1980’s Professor Peter Lisowski established links with Kunming Medical Hospital. He forwarded cartons of medical books and also donated royalties from his medical books to the hospital.

Our Aims

  • ACFS Tasmania members have interests in diverse aspects of life in China and the relationship between the two countries.
  • ACFS aims to stimulate the interest of the people of Tasmanian in China, past and present.  
  • We aim to provide information on what is happening between Tasmania and China in education, trade, tourism, food, language, medicine, music, art, crafts and Sister State relations.
  • ACFS aims to have an attractive program that helps our members keep in touch with as many of the Tasmania – China links as possible.
  • ACFS Tasmania is a supporter of the teaching of Chinese in schools, colleges and universities. ACFS has supported its inclusion in the Tasmanian education system since 1995.

Current era

ACFS Tas has continued cultural activities, speakers, art exhibitions, and gatherings into the 21st century. We maintain people-to-people links with China. Our newsletters keep our members up-to-date on all aspects of Chinese culture in Tasmania as well as information from China. Additionally, we liaise with other Chinese organisations in Tasmania and join cultural activities where possible. Our current Patron is renowned Chinese traditional artist and writer, Emeritus Professor Wong Shiu Hon, former Professor at the University of Hong Kong and Western Australia’s Murdoch University. Membership of the branch is open to any person or corporation who agrees with the objectives of the Society and makes payment of the membership fee.