Helen Gray (nee Chay)
Date Published
: Amoy / Xiamen, Australian-born, women
: South (Qld)
: Gayndah
: 1862 to 1942
Photograph of Helene Gray (nee Chay) in the Gayndah Museum with obituary on back.
Helen Gray (nee Chay)
Helene Gray was the daughter of John Chay.
“Not much is known about John Chay except that he was possibly among those Amoy men known to have worked on the Wetheron estate of William Humphreys.[1] Living in Queensland he was able to be naturalized as early as 1860.[2] John married Jane Craig in 1860 and they had at least five children. John however died in 1871, meaning Jane must have raised most of their young children alone.
More is known of his daughter Helen, who lived to a good age and had numerous descendants herself.[3] Two of her sons served in the AIF and one was wounded at Gallipoli. Another grandson of John Chay also served in France making at least three of his grandchildren to do so.”
[1] Moreton Bay Courier, Saturday 25 November 1854, p.3.
[2] State Archives Queensland, Naturalization Certificate, John Chay, 17th November 1860
[3] Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Wednesday 14 October 1942, p.5.
Excerpt from Too much like Englishmen by Michael Williams
"There was a large Chinese population settled at Gayndah"
The Brisbane Courier, Wednesday 15 Jan 1868, p.3.
Thomas Grey husband of Helen Chay
Obituary of Helen Chay (nee Gray)
