What is the Question, with Stewart Greedy

For December’s What is the Question, Roland spoke with vet and talented musician, Stewart Greedy.

 

What is your name?

Stewart Greedy

 

What is your occupation?

Veterinarian

 

What brought you to Ballarat?

The Ballarat Veterinary Practice. Apart from leaving for 18 months to locum in the UK and travel, I’m still there….

 

What is your favourite spot in the city?

Home. Nothing palatial, but a place where I can (rarely these days) indulge my passion for woodworking, relax with friends (not uncommonly around a piano!) or just potter. We do enjoy the botanic gardens/lake precinct; the cafés along Sturt Street, and the little restaurant precinct that’s been steadily cultivated around Armstrong Street North over the last couple of years.

 

What is your earliest memory?

When I was about four, Mum reversed the family Kingswood out of the carport before I’d shut my door. Unfortunately, the carport had stout brick pylons on my side which all but ripped-off the door. Mum, my younger brother, and I spent the next little while riding in the car all sitting on the front bench-seat until the door was replaced!

 

What do you like to cook?

I’m not a big cook. My daughters and I are spoilt by Mum who looks after us very well in that department. On the odd occasion when I do cook, it tends to be desserts, cakes, tarts, pastries, profiteroles.

What is the most expensive thing you’ve purchased – property aside?

My 10-year-old Toyota!

 

What building would you choose to be?

Scienceworks. Not the most picturesque or stately building but a great blend of the old and new; the 19th century pumping-station blended into the modern buildings. Teaching us scientific history and journeying into the future. A building that promotes learning and interest in our world in a fun way. I never tire of visiting and now my children, too, are enjoying this wonderful building.

 

What is the greatest love of your life – apart from friends and family?

The performing arts. I have sung and played piano from a young age. I continue to this day to perform on stage singing with local group VOX, and when time permits, taking roles in local theatre productions (I’m looking forward to performing in Mamma Mia at Her Majesty’s next May). When time doesn’t permit, I love playing in the pit orchestras for these very same productions. My present challenge is musical direction for the upcoming Ballarat Carols by Candlelight at City Oval on 22 December.

 

What or who inspires you?

People who are hard-wired to be determined to succeed, regardless of any obstacles life throws at them, rather than looking for excuses to fail.

 

What is your favourite holiday destination?

I don’t really have a specific geographic location, but any destination that has a beautiful, challenging golf course is fine with me (golf would be a close second in the greatest love-of-my-life stakes – friends and family aside!).

 

What music and television do you like?

Music. Wide and varied. Classical; various styles of contemporary. As a kid I spent most of my pocket-money buying sheet music to Billy Joel and Elton John songs, and later Ben Folds. I will listen to pretty much anything (once!). Of course, musical theatre, old and new. TV? With the exception of Game of Thrones, I haven’t really watched it for many years. If you see me in front of a television there will be AFL, rugby, cricket, golf, or any sporting world cup on the screen!

 

What is your favourite quote?

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” – Wayne Gretzky

 

What person – living or dead would invite to dinner party?

Tim Minchin. A very talented comedian, musician, and composer. Wise beyond his years, and not afraid to put his talents to hilarious good use, particularly in those areas of society he feels strongly about.

 

What technological/scientific development boggles your mind?

Quantum computing. Just ridiculously mind-boggling.

 

What qualities do you admire in other people?

Willingness to take responsibility for their own actions; willingness to embrace change and have a go; respectfulness, humility, generosity, commitment.

 

What was your first job?

Ballarat Veterinary Practice – unless you mean my first part-time job as a kid, delivering the local weekly paper and junk mail in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

 

What did you want to be when you were growing-up?

Believe it or not, a dentist!

 

What scares you?

The economic decisions being made by the various financial and political powers-that-be around the world and the behaviour and assumptions that is cultivating.

 

What historical calamity would you choose to reverse?

The 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.