Christopher
Teo was born in Kluang,
Johore
,
Malaysia
, of Chinese parents. He lived and
studied in
Singapore
, where he started working in various
positions and companies.
In
1964 he came to
Australia
and began studying accounting to get his
Australian accreditation
as a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA).
Chris
met his future wife, Koula, in 1968 and they married very
soon after.
They have two wonderful boys-Michael and Jason, both
talented musicians.
Chris
worked in different companies as a Group Accountant, Company
Secretary and Financial Controller. Eventually he set up his
own successful accounting practice.
He
sold his business in 1995 and began an “active
retirement” by trying his hand at fishing, gardening,
theatre, woodwork and commencing a degree in Fine Arts which
included painting, drawing, sculpture, pottery, lithography
and many other areas.
Chris
always had the desire to create but due to lack of time he
never developed these.
Thus
begins the next chapter of Chris’ life, a chapter that
took him away from the world of numbers, money and
figures-the regulated and prescriptive, to a world of
developing the mind, the aesthetics and coming in touch with
the inner self.
Last
year the Glen Waverley Arts Society held their annual Art
Show and Sales where Chris won first prize with his superb
and striking lithograph portrait of “Man” in the
category of Other Medium.
Not
content with his completed degree in Fine Arts, Chris is
still undertaking lessons by well known teachers and
developing further oil painting and pastel drawing skills.
He is also involved in the U3A (University of the Third Age)
by becoming a teacher himself and offering his broad
knowledge and expertise to others. He is a true example of
Solon’s philosophical saying…“I learn with age” (“γηράσκω αεί
διδασκόμενος”).
His
marriage to a Greek lady brought him in contact with the
Greek traditions, the culture and of course the Greek
language which he speaks with fluency. Chris was a most
inspired and willing “student” absorbing all things
Greek, thus concluding with his own words… “I am not
only a philhellene, I feel Greek.”
