G’day Patrick how long have you resided in the Newstead area?
We’ve had our place at Strangways (just out of Newstead) now for 28 years, and we’ve lived there full time for 23.
Where did you move from?
We moved from Melbourne. I’m originally from Sydney, and we (wife Megan and I) went travelling together and wound up in Victoria. Ours was about the fourth place we looked at. We just fell in love with it.
Where are you from originally?
Originally from Sydney. Near Dee Why. Before it was all developed.
What’s Dee Why?
Northern beaches.
Oh lovely. That’s the posh part isn’t it?
It is now. It wasn’t then… It was where I grew up and loved the bush. It was all basically built over by the time I was an adolescent. I’ve been looking for the bush ever since…
Great. Is your house anything notable in terms of energy arrangements?
Yeh. We live off grid. It’s a very small Californian bungalow, relocated from Pascoe Vale South.
What’s your line of work?
I’m retired now. I used to be a General Practitioner.
Ah. A doctor. Do you still carry the title?
When it’s to my advantage.
When’s that?
When I’m a patient so that people know they can actually explain to me properly what’s going on.
So a GP. For how long?
I was a GP for 35 years or so but most of that time I focussed mainly on mental health and psychotherapy…
Well Patrick, here you are well known for your photography. Can you tell me about that aspect of your life?
Yes. I’ve always been interested wildlife photography. Ever since Life on Earth with David Attenborough came out on TV… I’m always out there photographing a bird or a beetle or a bit of fungus or moss…
Or the cosmos I believe?
Or the cosmos. Yes astronomy’s another passion of mine. I don’t do much astrophotography but I’ve got a telescope that I wheel out and look at the stars on a clear night.
Of which there have been a few lately! Are you a member of any particular club or group?
I’m a member of a bird photography forum called Feathers and Photos. It’s a great way to learn about all types of photography. A very friendly and warm community and I’ve learnt heaps from it.
Any other involvements in the community?
Newstead Landcare.
You’re secretary of that group aren’t you?
Yes. I’ve been a member since about 2000 and I love this bushland around here and Newstead Landcare is a great avenue to look after it. We’re always welcoming new members. People can contact me on 0437663345 or email me at patrickkavanagh@bigpond.com
Three dream dinner guests?
David Attenborough of course, and the Delai Lama. But our community is more than just humans so what about the White Winged Choux’s. They’re the most amazing, funny, quirky birds with this complex social structure. I reckon they’d have a pretty good sense of humour.
Any philosophies by which you like to lead life?
I practice Zen and I find that a very useful approach, one of acceptance and openness to what is… And being aware of our deep interconnectedness with things, out inter-being with things.
Any pet peeves?
Yeh. A few, and they’re mostly to do with the unnecessary things that we do that damage our environment. Things like barbed wire fencing which captures and kills sugar gliders and raptors and owls. And people using second generation rat poisons which go on to kill raptors.
Not all rat poisons are equal are they?
No. Exactly. The older, first generation ones like Ratsak are just as effective for the rodents around here, and they don’t get transmitted to the body of an animal that can eat the dead body of the rat or the mouse. Whereas the newer ones, the second generations ones like Talon and The Big Cheese that’s sold at Bunnings, they get transmitted to the owl or the eagle that will eat the dead animal will then build it up in their system and die. They’ve found enormous numbers of dead powerful owls with rat poison in them. So, if you’ve got to use it, get an old one – Ratsak or something like that which will work just as well and save our wildlife… Birdlife Australia’s got all the info.
OK. What are you reading at the moment?
The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan. A great history of the world seen through the lens of the ancient trade routes across Asia into African and Europe.
What’s your music, or musical genre of choice?
Mostly these days I’m listening to my running playlist that I made up which is a lot of more recent dance music, bit of pop music. One I really like is Janelle Monáe.
Last question Patrick. What do you enjoy most about the place you call home?
Everything. It’s the most beautiful place. To live among this incredible wildlife and nature. To be able to see the stars at night. It’s an incredible privilege. Also this little community here has so much strength and social capital.