A quiet achiever in the Armidale community and at the University of New England is being remembered for his significant contributions, mirth and unassuming character. Dr Timothy O’Shea, known as Tim, passed away on Monday, 28 November 2011.
A funeral service was held at Piddington’s Crematorium Chapel, Armidale on Tuesday, December 6, 2012. Dr O’Shea was held in such high regard at the University of New England and throughout the Armidale community that the chapel was overflowing with mourners.
Condolences were offered to Tim’s partner, Julie Roberts and his family, Dennis, Kate, Sean, Fiza, Jonathon, Christopher, Lorna, Amy, Sheila, and Maurice.
Piddington’s Celebrant, Peter Howe said that Tim touched so many people-so many lives- in a positive way because of his giving nature. “As an educator he helped many to achieve their dreams, to overcome the problems and challenges in their lives.”
“Tim didn’t make a fuss about things – He just got on with what needed to be done,” he said. “One of Tim’s strongest characteristics was his happiness, his laugh and the sheer delight in his eyes. Everything he did was done with passion, zeal and enthusiasm. With decency and integrity, he was a gentle man and a gentleman.”
In addition to living on in the hearts of his loved ones, Dr. O’Shea’s legacy will long be felt in the Armidale and University of New England communities. Dr O’Shea was a long-time, passionate member of the Australian Labor Party. He gave much to his community including the Minimbah Foundation, the Lions Club and NERAM. As an animal physiology researcher and teacher, he garnered widespread respect.
Tim completed Bachelor and Masters degrees in chemistry in New Zealand in 1950, then worked as a government chemist before moving to Australia in 1953 to complete veterinary science at the University of Sydney. He then returned to NZ in 1958 to practice as a vet. Following the death of his young wife, he, his two young sons and his mother moved to Australia in 1962 so that Tim could do his PhD back at the University of Sydney. He moved from there to his position at UNE.
At UNE, Tim was a senior lecturer in Agricultural Biology from 1970- 1971 and then Physiology from 1972-1996. From 1984-1985, Tim was Head, Department of Physiology. Since 1997 he has been an Honorary Fellow in Animal Physiology. Until well into the 2000’s, he gave lectures and coordinated units in physiology and human bioscience. Since retiring and including 2011, he continued to demonstrate physiology laboratory classes, continued PhD research supervision, and published more than 20 journal articles and conference papers in that time with at least five more publications in preparation.
The Physiology Prize for Third Year Physiology was endowed by Tim in 1997 and is awarded to the undergraduate who has achieved the highest aggregate mark for any four, third-year Physiology units at UNE.
UNE Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jim Barber said that Tim was extremely generous with his time for both students and staff. “He was passionate about and showed a deep commitment to both teaching and research,” he said. “He was always there for research students to discuss their projects and assist them with sheep studies, even collecting blood samples throughout the night! Many students are in debt to Tim for their PhD.”
Tim’s dedication to research and teaching in his discipline was an inspiration to many. Former head of the Beef CRC and MLA Board Member, Bernie Bindon reflected on the achievements and character of his late colleague at the funeral service, with academic fervour.
“We met as PhD students at the Department of Veterinary Physiology at Sydney Uni in 1967. There were 18 such students in an old fibro building near the Ross Street gates to Sydney Uni Campus at Camperdown. He had two delightful young boys, Dennis and Sean, but Tim’s wife, Peg, had recently died in New Zealand and this may have been the trigger to influence Tim to change careers and enrol for a PhD at Sydney University. Remarkably, Tim’s ageing mother, Pauline, left New Zealand and her other family members and came with Tim to Sydney to help rear the boys. What a loving gesture on the part of this beautiful lady.
“Although my enrolment was four years behind Tim, we quickly became friends. Tim’s supervisor was Ray Wales, a distinguished Veterinary Physiologist and great educator. The Department was a stimulating place to work, all under the watchful eye of the God Professor, Cliff Emmens. Tim’s PhD project made original contributions to storage of semen at low temperature, a topic which underpins artificial insemination.Tim completed his PhD in 1967, was soon offered a lectureship in Physiology at UNE and he moved with Pauline, his mother, and the boys to Armidale in late 1969.
“Tim’s research at Sydney Uni linked nicely with another PhD student at the same time, Keith Entwhistle, now known to many at UNE and Armidale as the Dean of Science for 10 years. Sadly, Keith passed away in May this year, another serious loss to us all. The world needs more people in the mould of Tim O’Shea and Keith Entwhistle.
“In 1976, CSIRO made it possible for myself and my colleague, Laurie Piper, and our families to move to CSIRO, Chiswick research station. Thus began a 30 year union with Tim O’Shea and his students, along with our support staff, Rob Nethery, Grant Uphill and others, including Michael Hillard from UNE. During those 30 years we collaborated with Tim on research stemming from Laurie’s work on the Booroola Merino sheep and its fascinating genetic peculiarity.
“Tim and his students published some 15 quality papers on aspects of the Booroola’s physiology leading to original contributions of the protein hormone “INHIBIN”, the naturally-occurring “birth control’ substance produced by the ovary and testis in mammals, including man.
“Tim was a loyal supporter of the St Albert’s College Rugby team which I coached on and off for 25 years. It was a “double enjoyment” for me and my family to be at Albies Rugby in the cold Armidale winter Saturdays, knowing that Tim was on the sideline to offer me suggestions as the games progressed.”
Tony Ramsey from the Armidale Branch of the Australian Labor Party said that Tim was a long standing member of the NSW branch of the ALP, including his membership of the Armidale branch. He was also a proud member of the New Zealand Labour Party. “In addition, during his university days in New Zealand, Tim was very involved with the University Labour Society,” Mr Ramsey said.
“Tim was also a long and proud member of the Trade Union movement, including both the Federated Australian University Staff Association and then the National Tertiary Education Union here on the UNE campus.
“What drove Tim towards the labour movement per sé was his deep conviction in social and economic justice that was rooted in a pragmatic, deeply held ethos of justice and fairness that was unwavering and non-negotiable.
“While Tim always respected differing opinions, he was a fervent believer and defender of social justice and in his calm manner would fight as hard as any to achieve these ends. He also believed passionately in freedom of speech and would often lament at what he called ‘the creeping centralism of conformity’.
“Tim’s commitment and involvement in the local branch never wavered. From 1996, the Armidale branch was a big part of Tim’s life. Only two years later, Tim took on the thankless task of Branch Treasurer; a position he continued to fulfil with great distinction until his passing. I can never remember over the last decade or more (despite those miserable cold Armidale winter nights), Tim missing a single Branch meeting, if he was in Armidale.”
“Tim’s breadth of knowledge of public policy was second to none. Only recently he spoke passionately on such issues as coal seam gas exploration and the dangers and detrimental consequences that can derive when the market mechanism is left to its own devices, live cattle exports and the former NSW Government’s solar panel rebate scheme.”
Bill, the eldest brother of Tim’s partner Julie, said: “Some people go through their entire life never having met someone whom they admire and look up to, someone who has so many qualities that they wish they also possessed, someone who touches their life for the better, someone whom they will never forget for as long as they themselves will live. To me that person has been Tim. What an absolute gentleman – he was so knowledgeable on so many levels and yet never big-noted himself.
“Tim was a great teacher and imparted his knowledge willingly to the students he worked with. I never heard him speak ill of anyone – this is probably the quality I admired most about Tim. He never got in a tiz and seemed so even-tempered, even when under pressure – he never “sweated the small stuff’ as they say. Just a genuinely lovely person who was admired by so many people. I am so honoured to have met and known Tim O’Shea and judging by the number of past students who have contacted me and expressed similar sentiments, so are many others.”
Rest in Peace, Tim.
Compiled by Gary Fry
