Veterinarian receives Medal of the Order of Australia
Press release
2 February 2009
A Malaysian-born veterinarian who spent 34 years at the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Veterinary Science has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.
Dr Chee-Seong Lee received the honour in recognition of his service to veterinary education and research, international student welfare and for his work at the Burwood Community Presbyterian Church.
It is the culmination of a career that took him from his parents’ home in Ipoh to Taiwan, Ethiopia, the UK and Australia.
Dr Lee, 69, retired in 2004, but still returns to the University to assist current students on a voluntary basis and is described by colleague, Associate Professor Bruce Parry, as “one of the ‘old school’ gentlemen of the profession”.
“I never dreamed of this sort of thing happening to me,” he said. “I thought there were people far more deserving than me so when I received the letter I thought someone was pulling my leg.”
Dr Lee’s career as a veterinarian began when he won a scholarship to study for a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree at the National Taiwan University before securing his first appointment as a Veterinary Officer in a foreign aid program in Ethiopia sponsored by the Taiwanese Government.
Aware that his degree was not recognised in many countries, he won an Australian Dairy Produce Board Scholarship to study for his Masters at the University of Queensland before securing another scholarship from the Australian Dairy Foundation for his PhD at the University of Sydney in 1967.
Throughout this period he developed an interest in histopathology, particularly in cattle, and began a research career studying the mammary gland and female reproductive tract of a variety of species.
In 1970, he was appointed Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, subsequently being promoted to Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Reader in 1988 then awarded a Doctor of Veterinary Science four years later.
He spent three sabbaticals in Cambridge, England, carrying out research at the Babraham Institute and between 1998 and 2002 acted as a specialist on a panel of experts evaluating the respective veterinary curricula of schools in Taiwan, China, UK and USA following the handover of Hong Kong to China.
Dr Lee also made an important contribution to the administrative activities of the Faculty, at various times being Subject Coordinator, Year Coordinator, Deputy Head of Department and Acting Head of Department, as well as serving as a member on Faculty and University Committees and acting as Chairman of Examiners for postgraduate theses.
On retirement in 2004, Dr Lee was made Honorary Principal Fellow with the title of Associate Professor, having published more than 140 papers and a thesis featuring studies of the mammary gland, placenta and ovary that brought worldwide recognition in his field.
Throughout his time at the University he helped many of the Faculty’s increasing number of international students, particularly those from Asia, adjust to life in Australia, using his own experiences to tackle problems such as isolation, loneliness and culture shock.
He has also been involved in the Melbourne community through his church work with the Burwood Community Presbyterian Church where he is an elder and had been the Session Clerk and Secretary of the Church Board.
“When I look back I wonder how I managed my time with a heavy teaching load and all my other responsibilities,” said Dr Lee.
“Histology is my passion so I still go back to help with practical classes at the University on a voluntary basis and find interacting with students very satisfying.”
For further information please contact the Marketing Manager, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Tel: 8344 7844 or email: vet-communications@unimelb.edu.au