Michael Lee awarded an OAM: ‘So many others in education are worthy of that kind of pat on the back’
St Mary MacKillop College principal, Mr Michael Lee OAM,
When Michael Lee walked in to teach his first class, armed with little more than enthusiasm, the St Mary MacKillop College principal could never have imagined he would one day receive an Order of Australia medal for service to education.
“I was an arts/law student at ANU and had run up a bit of debt, so I wrote to a couple of schools for a job,” he laughed.
“I was up for something different. All I had to offer was enthusiasm; no teacher training. But someone thought it would be a good idea to give me a year 10 typing class.
Mr Lee said the moment he entered the classroom, he felt an instant sense of responsibility to the students.
“The theatre of the relationship between the teacher and the class was irresistible,” he remembered.
“I never went back and finished law, although I did get some teacher training. But it is that relationship with a group of kids – whether it is Year 10 typing, or Year 8 religion or Year 12 history – that has always been an abiding motivation for me.”
Mr Lee said he had been overwhelmed by the sheer number of people in the community who reached out to congratulate him since Australia Day.
“I am incredibly humbled and embarrassed, which I think is the general reaction of award recipients,” he said.
“There are so many people in education who are worthy of that kind of pat on the back.
“I think that for anyone involved in schools, particularly after the last few years in schools, any recognition is very humbling and that’s how I feel. Receiving the award is emblematic of what people are doing across the schools.”
His abiding belief, Mr Lee noted, is that schools are a social agent for good things.
“Schools are a really important community asset – providing kids with knowledge and skills; providing them with a sense of curiosity; providing them with a vocational pathway; assisting them in building self-efficacy and self-esteem and in a catholic sense, knowing that one of the ways we know Jesus is through community,” he said.
“We can give kids a community of faith and a Catholic experience that is positive, that they can rely on and build on in their own life.”
The OAM recognised not only Mr Lee’s career, which has spanned more than four decades – including 25 years as a principal – but also acknowledged his work beyond the role, including leadership roles on boards, commissions, and associations in service of the teaching profession.
“I’m still as motivated as I ever was,” he enthused.
“You get your energy from your kids and your parents and your staff.”
Catholic school teachers Sarah McGoram (Holy Spirit) and Patricia Ellis (Carroll College/St Bernard’s) were also awarded Order of Australia Medals in the 2023 honours.