Albert Lee (Paralympian)

Lee was born on 17 October 1962. He married his wife Anne in 1998. Together they have two sons – Jonathan and Mitchel. Lee has interests in team sports, fitness and adventures. He is a double leg amputee. Lee lives in Sydney where he is a registered optometrist. == Amputation ==

On February 20, 1983, Lee was in involved in an accident where he fell under a train In Australia there are 8000 lower limb amputations performed annually due to various causes. Sex, age and type 2 diabetes are all key factors when determining the relative risk rate for lower limb amputations in the Australian public. Being male can result in a 15-32% increase in relative risk for lower limb amputation. When amputation occurs at a younger age - less than 35 years old - the effect on risk rate due to sex is emphasized. By being a young male, one would be at a higher relative risk for lower limb amputation due to any cause than one's female counterparts at that stage of life. == Sporting career ==

Lee participates in sports and he has significant achievements in sitting volleyball and sailing. Sitting volleyball Lee represented Australia at the 2000 Paralympics for sitting volleyball which was held from 18 until 29 October in Sydney, Australia. The team consisted of 11 members which included Edward Bray, Paul Croft, Darren Gay, Lee, Brant North, Kevin Price, Glenn Pyne, Brett Roworth, Greg Sobczak, Bruce Thompson and Mark Whiteman. The team known as the 'Crabs', played five matches in the preliminary round of the competition where they were placed in group B and were to play against teams from Egypt, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Libya and Korea. The team lost to all the other teams in their group with various results. They lost to Egypt, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Korea by 3 sets to 0. They also lost to Libya by 3 sets to 2. The team played a further 2 matches in the classification rounds of the competition. In the classification for places 9–12, the team lost to Japan by 3 sets to 1. In the classification for places 11 and 12, the team managed their first international win against the United States of America by 3 sets to 1. This only win resulted in the team finishing eleventh out of the twelve teams that competed. Lee competed in 1994, 1996 and 2013 with the Making Waves Foundation. Lee competed in 1996; however, the team broke their boat's boom and the vessel had to be retired leading to an incomplete attempt. In 2013, Lee raced on the 'Faceboat' which was skippered by Kirk Watson who was accompanied by his guide dog 'Tiller'. The vessel was a custom built yacht made specially to suit the needs of its disabled crew. The crew was made up of D Pescud (20) (navigator), G Johnstone (8), M Thomson (7), R Speedy (10), D Leslie (1), C Josling (10), B Allen (3), K Moore, A Lee (4), B Canham (6), D D'annunzio, G Kennedy, T Purkiss, G Donovan and R Sealey. After Lee's first Sydney to Hobart yacht race in 1994 he said he had "for the first time in my life since my accident I felt free. I was out on the ocean with a crew who had disabilities second. We were sailors first." He also loves the sense team spirit and unity between the crew. Albert has said that he loves "sailing because it is a sport where disabled people can actually compete on equal terms". == Education ==

Lee studied optometry at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and is furthering his studies as a MPhil candidate researching refugee and people seeking asylum's access to eye care in NSW. Appointments From 2002 to 2007 and 2011 to 2013, Lee was an Optometry Australia (NSW/ACT) councilor. From 2003 to 2004, he was a quality in practice surveyor. In 2006, he was part of the Association of Health Professions NSW. He was a member of the Optical Dispensers licensing board from 2004 to 2010 and the optical dispensers trust from 2010 to 2014. Since 2012, he is a CASA accredited Optometrist and from 2015 to 2021 was a member of the Optometry council of NSW. In 2017, he was a board member of Sailors with Disabilities (non-profit). Lee is affiliated with and a member of Optometry Australia (NSW/ACT) and CCLSA. He is a clinical supervisor in the UNSW Optometry clinic and is involved in the provision of eye care services to Justice Health, the Forensic Mental Health Network and the Villawood Detention Center. == Philanthropy ==

Lee is involved in many philanthropic activities. His desire to help others stems from kindness the people around him showed him during his own tough times. When it comes to providing others with support Albert says "when we can, we need to look after the people that need help, we need to encourage them to stand on their own and be part of the solution". Lee has an interest in public health and enjoys giving back to the community. He has contributed as a clinical supervisor in the UNSW clinic. He has been on trips to Sri Lanka, Vanuatu, the Tiwi Islands, the Northern Territory While Lee enjoys showing people how abled disabled people are, he also loves the team spirit and camaraderie that the Making Waves Foundation's team emulates. Albert says that when sailing with a crew with disabilities "there aren't as many egos" because everyone has had "to accept some disadvantages in life", despite these disadvantages the crew knows what they are "capable of and appreciate what others have to contribute". == Career ==

Lee is a registered optometrist and has an optometry practice at Shop 4, 2 King Street, Rockdale, NSW. ==References==