Dr Lee Meakin (nee Fua) (1991)
My time at Queen’s holds fond memories. We lived in the South wing and made some lifelong friends. It was where I met my future husband (Dr Alex Meakin 1990) and changed my career path from Actuarial Studies to Medicine. One year, Alex and I organised the annual scavenger hunt, which was a great success, although our two door Honda Civic made egg-throwing a bit tricky. Another year Alex Jones (1990) and I were runners up to Alex Meakin and Ross Jennens (1990) in the 500 competition.
I am fortunate to enjoy travelling, hiking, skiing, running, rowing, and cycling. One of my proudest achievements was completing my 10th Melbourne Marathon last year and earning my “Melbourne Marathon Spartan” status.
Keeping fit and healthy is a high priority for our family. Its benefits are both physical and mental and I see the need for this every day at work. Prior to COVID I did a couple of trips to Tanzania for Health Checks at the School of St Jude’s and feel privileged that a career in medicine allows such diverse experiences. These trips not only serve to highlight the differences in access to healthcare but also that despite the affluence we enjoy, we are sadly not necessarily happier or more content.
In the past 50 years, women’s opportunities have grown, and we’ve shed light on gender bias in various professions. Yet, there’s still work to be done. Gender equality is more common in lower job levels than in boardrooms and high management positions. Women now face the challenge of juggling increased professional roles with most parenting and housekeeping responsibilities, often with inadequate support in terms of childcare and parental leave. There’s room for improvement on this front as we strive for true equality.
I am a General Practitioner based in Ballarat. My husband, Alex Meakin, and I have four children: Oliver, Zac, Benjamin and Harriet. I work alongside Mike O’Sullivan and Kerry Archer; whose son James is the 2024 President of Queen’s College. Our connection with Queen’s endures, if not through our own children, but the children of our friends who have been residents. We support Queen’s Annual Giving to ensure students can benefit from Queen’s opportunities.