FAIRNIE, Dr Ian James AM (1944-) .jpg)
Upper IV Class 1945, Fairnie 5th from the left (image provided)
Veterinarian and community development activist, Ian Fairnie was educated at Geelong College from his kindergarten years, commencing in 1948, until his departure in 1961. He was a School Prefect in 1961. After completing his secondary education he was accepted into the Veterinary Science Course at the University of Melbourne in 1962, becoming a resident at Ormond College.
The following year Ian took a break from his studies, returning to Geelong College and working at the Preparatory School. During the year he was Form master for Form IG and an assistant master at Warrinn House. Ian returned to his veterinary science course at the University of Melbourne in 1964.
Ian began graduate life as a practicing veterinarian in 1968, while also teaching part-time at Marcus Oldham Farm Management College to help pay off his university fees. He moved to WA with his new wife Helen Jones in 1969 and over the next 15 years undertook graduate studies in Education and completed a PhD at Murdoch University. In 1983 he was appointed Dean and Director of the Muresk Institute at Curtin University, and six years later became Executive Vice-President of Curtin University WA Ltd, based in the USA. In this position, he was charged with overseeing US fundraising for The John Curtin Centre in Perth, and developing links to a number of US universities and colleges, with the aim of attracting their students to study abroad at Curtin. Returning to Curtin in 1995, Ian helped write Curtin's successful submission for the Federal Government's audit of Australian universities relating to community service and research, and shortly afterwards was appointed Director of External & Community Relations.
lan's main focus as Dean of Community Life was the building of formal linkages between Curtin and its many neighbours through Service Learning programs involving US study abroad students as well as local students. He nurtured the development of Curtin Volunteers in 1993 as well as the John Curtin Undergraduate Scholars’ Program and the John Curtin Day, from 2000 onwards. He developed Service Abroad programs for US and European university students including: an experience program with the Wongatha Wonganarra Aboriginal community in Laverton WA, and over 50 Asian Study Tours. He oversaw a number of multicultural events at Curtin such as the annual Curtin Mundjah Festival and "BeanAid", which collected food for hungry children in Western Australia. He also helped create the John Curtin Leadership Academy.
Ian was National President of the Australian Veterinary Association in 1989-90, a foundation Board member of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association 1990-1997, organising its World Congress in Jakarta in 1997. In 2002, Ian co-founded the Alchemist Foundation, dedicated to connecting young Australians to communities for mutual benefit. He has been a director of Foodbank WA, a member of the Community Advisory Group for Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women, the board of EdVentures WA, and Volunteering WA.
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Ian and Helen Fairnie preparing a lion for an infertility implant in Zimbabwe (image provided)
Ian has been a member of Rotary International since 1984 and served in various roles with the Rotary Clubs of Northam, Perth, and Applecross, where he served as President in 2018-19.
Ian's recreational interests include the pipe organ, and he has been a volunteer church organist since 1966.
In 2020 Ian was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia at the Australia Day awards.
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Preparatory School Form I 1963