My passions 

Where do I start? I have quite a few, so perhaps I should begin with my my most recent passion. 

Shaolin Kung Fu

I have previously done Tai Kwon Do, but I was looking for a purer form of martial arts, one that was both mental and spiritual. Shaolin was originally a form of physical meditation, and the purpose is to create a strong mind, body and soul.

It’s beyond breaking blocks of wood – it’s core to learning is how to defend yourself and achieving a focus beyond the everyday issues that we face.

Music

My family was very musical, and music is a real passion. I have played violin since I was young – in Year 10, I was in ten different bands. I played a little bit at the Melbourne Con Orchestra, until medicine became too busy and there wasn’t enough spare time.

I still love going to opera, concerts and ballet. The classical music genre is something I’m really into – in fact, it moves me like nothing else. It made me a geek when I was growing up because all of my friends were into pop! I’m trying to expose my kids to it.

AFL

I grew up barracking for Hawthorn, and although I am restricted by living in Sydney, I ‘m still a huge supporter. When I was younger, my weekend would be ruined if they lost! Hawthorn is very much a family team and promotes togetherness – I’d dearly love to bring my boys to more AFL games. Every weekend, I have the online radio on and follow games.

Family

I’m passionate about my family. My father passed away when I was quite young, so that does impact on you. I have a ‘nuclear family’ – wife and two boys. Work is of course a passion, but family is my structural need. If your family isn’t right, everything else collapses around you.

My boys are such unique individuals – you can see both your strengths and weaknesses in them. Our ultimate goal should be to make our children better than we are.

My wife is a doctor, so she understands the pressures that the profession can bring with it. I finished ophthalmology when I was quite young, and I was one of the first of our medical school groups to have children.

We like nothing better as a family than having a day out. I think of myself of Australian and I can’t speak Chinese, but I still have a very strong Chinese background. We try to impart out childhood experiences and educate them as much as well can. I guess this is a traditional Chinese way of bringing children up.

Other passions

I love reading fantasy novels, especially by David Eddings and Raymond Feist. I used to walk around into walls because I was reading so heavily, even when I was on the move!

If I could choose an ideal day on my own it would be in a park, reading a fantasy novel. It ‘s an escape and can deliver you into another world, letting your imagination grow.

I also love movies, especially Disney and Pixar. It’s just such a great form of escapism, a vision of the world the way it should be.  It helps that my children love them as well!

Associate Professor Chan in action

Shaolin Kung Fu Shaolin Kung Fu

Shaolin Kung Fu