Richard Creed had two passions in his early life, dinosaurs and animals. Richard's passion for animals led him to Lismore in the early 1990s and he quickly fell in love with the community and became a highly respected vet. Maive McKenzie sat down with Richard to get his life story.

I grew up right within Sydney in the western suburbs in a loving family. My father was an insurance broker, navigating the world of policies and premiums but my mum, on the other hand, was a stay-at-home mum, loving and caring for us deeply.

The truth is, for a good chunk of my childhood, I harboured a rather fantastical dream: to become a palaeontologist. Dinosaurs weren’t just toys to me; they were giants that roamed the Earth millions of years ago, leaving behind a legacy of wonder. Digging up bones and piecing together their stories felt like the ultimate adventure. But that fascination, while intense, was fleeting. By the time I was a little bit older, a different passion had taken root – a love for animals that blossomed into a desire to become a vet.

The truth is, animals have always held a special place in my heart. Ever since I can remember, they’ve filled my life with a kind of unconditional love and companionship that’s hard to describe. And picking a favourite is just the most impossible task! From the playful curiosity of a puppy to the regal grace of a horse, each creature brings something unique to the table. And that’s part of what makes being a vet so incredibly appealing.

(Young Richard with the family cat August 1981)

Sure, working with animals is a huge part of the draw, but it’s the variety that really keeps things interesting. One day you might be patching up a scraped knee on a rambunctious cat, the next you’re examining miniature ponies. It’s a never-ending adventure, and that’s exactly what I crave.

So, Sydney Uni and the Bachelor of Veterinary Science program – that was the initial dream. Studied hard, poured my heart into that application, but for whatever reason, it wasn’t meant to be that first time around. I am not going lie, it stung a bit. But hey, that’s life. So, I dusted myself off, and started exploring other options.

Zoology at Macquarie University caught my eye and the chance to delve deeper into the animal kingdom sounded like a fun kind of thing. I picked up the application materials, ready to dive headfirst into a new path. It's funny how things work though, because literally the very next day, I was accepted into Sydney Uni on second-round offers. It seemed the universe agreed this would be my path, and they had a spot for me after all. Needless to say, those Zoology brochures went straight into the recycling bin. I packed my bags, said goodbye, and marched straight into the program I'd always wanted.

Talk about a rollercoaster ride to start off the journey. 

University turned out to be a fantastic experience. A whirlwind of late-night study sessions, early-morning lectures, and the thrill of finally understanding a complex concept. But what truly made those five years unforgettable was the incredible group of people I shared it with. We weren’t just classmates nodding at each other across a crowded lecture hall. We were a unit, a support system that saw each other through thick and thin.

The beauty of the program being entirely in-person meant everything became a shared adventure. Throughout the course, all of the exams and the mountain of work were hard. It also meant that we were going to tackle it all together. We commiserated over bad grades, celebrated the good ones, and fueled each other with endless cups of coffee during those inevitable all-nighters before exams. The bond only grew stronger during our last year when we decided to live together.

This made that last year of university even more special. University was definitely about getting an education, but for me, the real treasure was the close connections I built. Those friends became like a second family, the chosen kind you pick yourself, the ones you know you can count on, and the ones who’ll be there to reminisce about the crazy, unforgettable journey that was university.

The vet life has been my whole professional career, but back in my university days, I had to earn some money and therefore started my own gardening business. I would garden for folks in the neighbourhood doing the whole package from mowing lawns to trimming hedges. To get my name out there, I would put out flyers I made and did the good ol’ letterbox drops. 

University was certainly not just about textbooks and lectures, and during my last couple of years the course required a practical placement component, and that’s where things got interesting. I landed a spot in Coffs Harbour for the prac – a beautiful coastal town, by the way. The person who I worked for ended up being good mates with the vet who ran the Lismore practice at the time, David Jones.

David ended up calling my boss to check in on how I was doing, and when he heard things were going well, he offered me a job when I got straight out of uni! “Lismore?” I thought at first. “Where on earth is Lismore?” Despite not previously knowing the town, I decided to head up for an interview anyway.

Once I arrived, you could tell this was a special community, and the place itself was even more beautiful than I imagined. Originally, I figured I’d stick around for about two years, back in 1992. Well, two years turned into three years, and three years turned into three decades, and I haven’t looked back since. Lismore became my home. That job offer from David turned into a lifelong career.

When I first got started way back in January 1992, I was fresh out of uni and full of wide-eyed optimism. I figured I’d stick around for a couple of years, gain some experience, and then maybe head off on some new adventure. But life, as it often does, had other plans.

(Wedding with wife, Cheryl December 1997)

Fast forward a year. I was catching up with some friends from university, and they weren’t exactly brimming with job satisfaction. Hearing them grumble about their work situations honestly took me by surprise. Here I was, loving every minute at the practice and really enjoying becoming part of the community. It made me realise just how lucky I was. That, combined with the amazing people I worked with, solidified my decision to stay put. Little did I know my dedication would pay off in a big way. Within 4-5 years, I found myself becoming a partner at the practice, which was such a memorable moment that I would never forget. 

If I were to pick out the most memorable moments from this career, it would be a tough one. It’s true; sometimes, the things that stick with you the most are the bumps in the road, the challenges you overcome. But becoming a partner at the practice? Now, that was a moment etched permanently in my memory. A true turning point, a chance to really take ownership of something I’d poured so much heart and soul into.

Of course, it's not all about the big milestones. There are the quieter moments that stay with you. The ones that tug at your heartstrings. Like the time, twenty years ago now, when I had to help a woman say goodbye to her beloved dog. She wrote a beautiful poem for her furry friend, and the depth of her love for that animal was just unforgettable. It’s those moments, the connections we build with both animals and their humans, that truly make this job special. They remind you of the profound impact we can have, even in the face of loss.

Overall, this job is way more than just a paycheck; it’s incredibly rewarding. You get to be a part of something truly special: the bond between people and their pets. From the excitement of welcoming a new puppy into the family to the heartbreaking goodbyes at the end of a long life, you’re there to share in these momentous moments, and it’s so wonderful to not just be a part of it but to be able to connect with every person who walks through the door. 

(Richard & his dog Nacho)

One of the most incredible things about these relationships is that some span generations. Take the farmer I used to work with, for example. When I first met him, his daughter was just barely two years old, toddling around the farm and now she’s all grown up, running the whole operation! Watching families grow alongside their furry companions, that’s the kind of thing that stays with you. It’s those connections, those long-lasting relationships, that make this job truly special.

However, this job can be really challenging and can also be very draining. It’s most certainly a high-pressure job and when you’re dealing with something as precious as a beloved pet’s health, there’s no room for error. Every decision carries weight. On top of that, it’s an emotionally charged environment. You have to be on your toes, ready to navigate the rollercoaster of emotions that come with caring for animals and their worried owners.

Furthermore, it is a 24/7 practice. This isn’t a profession where you can clock out at 5pm and forget about it. If an animal has a medical emergency in the middle of the night, you jump up and answer the call. It’s part of the deal, the responsibility that comes with being a vet and it can be demanding, for sure, but being able to be there and help out is also very rewarding. 

While the job comes with both highs and lows, I have had my loving family beside me all through it.

I met my partner in 1996, and we have been married for 26 wonderful years. We have had two children and they are all grown up now, spreading their wings and making their mark on the world. They’ve all flown the coop and landed in Brisbane, and while we miss them dearly, we are so proud of them.

(Family photo September 2023)

Besides, my family is still close by, thanks to my folks. They made a wise move. Settling down in Ballina and having them in the region is a real treat, a chance to catch up and create some more memories together.

Coming and starting work in Lismore and becoming part of this community has been such a lively experience. It’s more than just a place on a map or what people see on the news. If I were to sum it up into one word, I would say eclectic. It is a beautiful mishmash of people, backgrounds, and beliefs, all woven together into a community. And the thing I love most about Lismore is that it embraces everyone, no questions asked. You can be whoever you want to be, quirks and all, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms.

I have a friend down on the South Coast, and their kid came out as transgender, and my friend is worried sick about violence and bullying. I had immediately thought about telling her to move to Lismore! Lismore is a place where you can be your authentic self, without fear of judgement. And that’s something special, something truly worth cherishing.

There’s a real sense of community here, a feeling that you're not alone, that you belong. Now, that doesn’t mean we’re all sunshine and rainbows all the time. There are disagreements, sure, and the occasional bump in the road. But at the core of Lismore, at the very heart, it’s about acceptance, it's about celebrating our differences and I am so glad that I ended up here and in the community with the people I care about and doing a job I love.