George Ah Ling (Lau San), affectionately known as ‘Georgie’, arrived in Victoria in the late 1920s. He initially worked as a market gardener at Dimboola, Victoria. He was then was asked by his cousin, Harry Ah Ling, to help him with his market garden in Donald, north of Ararat in Victoria.

George put up a simple shack on his garden in Donald. Each day he delivered fruit and vegetables to the people of Donald by horse and cart. He grew the vegetables himself and brought the fruit from elsewhere in by train.

He lived a frugal life. The money he was able to send back to China enabled his children to be well educated and enter responsible professions in America. George’s happy nature and complete honesty endeared him to the people of Donald. It was said he was the only person who was welcome in every home. Members of the community helped him with food and farmers brought feed for his horse and replaced it when necessary.

In his old age his children wanted him to join them the United States but Georgie said ‘Donald is my home’. On his passing his ashes were buried with a headstone in the Brooklyn Cemetery, New York, but a memorial service was also held in Donald, and a plaque placed at the site of his garden.

Many artefacts from his life are preserved in the Donald Court House Museum, and reminiscences from people who knew him make up the book, Georgie Ah Ling, Donald’s Friend, which is available from the Donald District Archives.

Short essay by Donald History and Natural History Group, 2013.