Lee had a high profile and most distinguished career as a sporting administrator, particularly in athletics.

When people say they have spent their entire life in a particular enterprise or situation, they rarely mean most of their life.

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But in Lee's case, he is entirely entitled to claim a lifetime's involvement in sport.

Born on March 26, 1926, at Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, England, three and a half hours later at 7pm that day he was a paid-up member of the Southend and County Harriers Club.

He has been a club member, participant, official, administrator in a vast number of sports and sporting bodies around the world ever since.

Signalman C D Lee served in World War II from March 31, 1943, until he was discharged on September 27, 1947, but immediately entered "Z" reserve for 10 years.

Lee told the British Army he was leaving the UK for Australia on September 3, 1957, and got a call from the Army saying "you can't leave till December 31, just send a note and it will be OK".

He was discharged on September 1 and arrived in Australia in October with his wife and family.

Before leaving the UK for Australia, he was an active administrator and competitor in athletics, soccer, rugby union, refereeing, cycling, hockey and tennis.

Knowledge of his involvement in sport and his administrative ability preceded him having joined the Western Suburbs Athletic Club in New South Wales before he left the UK.

He continued in banking for three years and then worked at Sydney University.

The list of administrative roles undertaken by Lee during his lifetime is huge.

His first involvement with the Olympic Games was in London in 1948 when as a volunteer he raked the long jump pit.

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He attended the Helsinki Games in 1952 as a spectator, but after immigrating to Australia he attended the Olympic Games from 1972 through till 2000, in the different roles of administrative assistant to the Australian Athletic Team and consultant of the Australian Olympic Committee.

He was the head of the Australia delegation to the International Amateur Athletic Federation, the world controlling body from 1974 to 1989, and was part of the organising committee of the 1981 World Cup of athletics which was held in Canberra.

Lee was one of four people who formed the City to Surf fun run in Sydney.

In 1971, there 1800 competitors in that first event and now there are over 80,000.

He continued on the City to Surf committee until 1990.

Lee was involved in many Commonwealth Games, the Pacific Conference Games, Oceania Games and South Pacific Games over many years.

His name is on the honours roll of Athletics Australia and he has a long list of life memberships - Athletics Australia, Athletics New South Wales, International Amateur Athletic Association, Oceania Amateur Athletics Federation being just a few.

He has been described by all who have worked with him as an outstanding administrator and a great servant to athletics worldwide.

Lee was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1990 at which time he joined the Order of Australia Association.

He has been a lifetime member since 2000 and has served as the Chairman of the Northern Region of the Association in Tasmania and the Deputy Chairman of the Tasmanian Branch.

He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.

During his almost 95 years, has distinguished himself in the world of amateur sport.

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