Wellington Lee has been described as a trailblazer for multicultural Australia. He was born in 1925 and attended TGS from 1940-42 before serving with the RAAF during WWII from 1943-46 and the Active Reserve of Officers from 1953-83.
Mr Lee was a remarkable man of good character who lived in an exciting time of growth and change during Australia’s, and particularly Victoria’s history; the early days in Melbourne when 10% of their population was a thriving Asian community. It was also a difficult and tumultuous time for Chinese Australians due to the White Australia Policy which led to segregation and persecution.
Mr Lee used his determination and resilience to rise above these challenges, and became a decorated war veteran, a pharmacist, a small business owner and Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne. He was proud of the fact that he was a returned serviceman and would march in the ANZAC Day Parades. He was a prominent figure in veterans affairs as a member of the RSL and served on the State Executive of the Victorian RSL.
In 1977, Mr Lee was one of the first Australians of Asian heritage to be elected to public office as a councillor for the City of Melbourne and he went on to be one of the longest-serving councillors, spanning the 70s, 80s and 90s. He never aligned with a political party or powerful civic group, he was always independent and ‘his own man’. It was purely his ability to connect with people at any level that maintained his popularity.
He faced up to racism at many stages of his life but never let it define him. Instead, he became a local legend, a champion for a multitude of good causes and a trailblazer on many levels. The scale of his contribution to community life over the decades is demonstrated by the exhausting length and breadth of the many roles he held.
He was president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Victoria, the Australian Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Chinese Associations, as well as chair of Overseas Students’ Trust and Emergency Fund. He served on the state executive of the Victorian RSL and the Victorian Regional Council Air Training Corps, and also served on the State Library Foundation, the Adult Parole Board and the Honorary Magistrates Bench. He was a district governor of Lions International, a Red Cross Appeals organiser, a member of the Victorian Health Services Review Committee, Chair of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria and the Landcare Foundation of Victoria.
Mr Lee has been fondly described as, “A character with a big personality who was both a gentleman and a larrikin. His strength was his ability to get along with people, and he made it his business to know everyone in the Melbourne CBD.”
Mr Lee had a great love for TGS. He would speak of the School with fondness and attended numerous reunions. He sadly passed away on Christmas Day 2022. He has been acknowledged on our Old Boys’ Wall of Achievement for his noteworthy services to Australia, particularly the Chinese community.
Mr Lee is a shining example of a man of good character. A man who served others. A man who gave without any thought of reward. A man who was Fidelis in Omnibus.
Latest Blog
Life After School
As children grow and develop, they participate in a range of new experiences, with the “journey” from birth to adulthood being shaped by several awaited and expected transitions. These transitions occur across a range of context and help us to evolve in new environments. It is important to note that transition is associated with a change, which is something that happens for all of us. The concept of transition involves how we process, manage, and respond to the change. As adults, we work hard…
TGS Artist in Residence - Ben Tupas
I’ve been following Toowoomba Grammar School’s exciting Artist-in-residence program for several years. After seeing fellow Toowoomba artists such as Catherine Parker, Alice Weinthal and Vincent Parisi taking up the opportunity and engaging in the program, I decided to apply in 2022 to continue the momentum of my own artist practice. With the four-week residency wrapping up at the end of October, and some time to reflect on the experience I can write that the experience was a valuable…
The Transition to Secondary School
Research shows us that the move from a primary school to a secondary school is one of the most significant life changes that our young men will face. You can help make the transition to Senior School smoother by ensuring that the boys attend the orientation days, practice packing their bags and getting their sports, music, and activities equipment ready. When asked about tips for the boys coming into Year 7, current Year 7 dayboy, Ollie Wells suggests boys should “Be organised. Pack the night…
Nothing is Impossible
Toowoomba Grammar School's Year 7C English has been studying 'Cool Runnings' to learn about how stories or movies based on real life aren't always completely true. Extremely fascinated by the topic, young student Harry Ryan took it upon himself to message (via LinkedIn) the bobsled driver, Mr Dudley Stokes - he responded! After a little communication between the two, Harry asked Mr Stokes if he could FaceTime him during an English lesson, to 'meet' his teacher Mr Paul Irwin and classmates…
Simple Acts of Kindness
Giving back to the community is an important value that Toowoomba Grammar School endeavours to instill in our boys. Year 12 student, Tumoana Strugnell is a shining example of how it costs nothing but our time to help others, especially as we move into the Festive season and the challenges of life seem heightened. I first became involved in community service when I was in Year 6, through my local primary school’s involvement on ANZAC Day and my parent’s involvement in local community events. I’m…
A Holistic Approach to our Boarders' Activities Program
A true education is about much more than just lessons in a classroom. It’s about providing experiences that challenge a child, physically and mentally. It’s about providing opportunities that build independence, resilience and that help develop their good character. Toowoomba Grammar School is proud to offer a broad and liberal education that stretches way beyond the walls of a classroom and equips our boys with the skills to flourish as an individual. We offer a diverse and engaging…
A Beginner's Guide to Manga
If your son has brought home a book with big eyed characters, and he seems to be reading backwards, chances are, he's discovered Manga. The Dent library has a Manga collection that would be the envy of many schools, with over 100 unique titles. It Is easily the most visited section in the library, over half of the top 100 titles borrowed this year are Manga! But what is Manga? Manga is an umbrella term for a variety of print comics and graphic novels originating from Japan. Unlike western…
A Safe, Welcoming and Joyous Community
Tell us about yourself My background, at least that associated with boarding and teaching, is long and varied with a number of different aspects leading to this chosen career path. For the most part, I was schooled in Canberra but had extended periods in Lesotho, Norfolk Island, and Samoa as a result of my father’s work in foreign aid. My schooling was quite disruptive, and I wasn’t a model student! I was always passionate about English; often distracting myself (amongst other things) immersed…
Facilitating Respect
Recently the 2022 TGS Prefect group spoke at the Headmaster’s Assembly about respecting individuality. But what does this mean? The foundations for a successful relationship with peers, family, co-workers, and others is framed and supported by a two-way street of respect. However, for this two-way street to be functional it is important to know that respect cannot be demanded, it can only be earned. Toowoomba Grammar School is no different and respect is nurtured in various forms such as in the…
