painter and needleworker, was born in Braidwood, eldest daughter of Chinese immigrants. Her father, Chee Dock Ng, came to NSW in 1872 to join his brother on the goldfields at Mongarlowe and in 1884 moved to Braidwood to open a general store. He visited China in 1887 and returned with his bride, Boo Jung (Mary). The locals, who had difficulty with the name 'Ng’, called the family by the name of the shop, 'Nomchong’, meaning 'southern prosperity’. Much of Maude’s youth was spent helping raise her thirteen brothers and sisters. Both parents had converted to Catholicism and the children were all baptised and educated at the local parish church and school, St Bede’s.
Maude was sent to St Scholastica’s Convent in Sydney to complete her secondary education. Having studied book-keeping, she returned to help run the family ventures, which included a carrier business, a garage and property investments. A talented needlewoman, the family recall her making copies of the latest Sydney fashions. She never married and died at the age of seventy-six.
Two younger sisters were also notable craftworkers. Lucy Florence (Dolly, 1894-1928) specialised in painted tin work as well as dressmaking and millinery, while Catherine Ellen (Nellie, 1901-1961) did fine needlework and ran a dressmaking business from the family home behind the sho
- Writers:
- Toy, Ann
- Date written:
- 1995
- Last updated:
- 2011
