Meggie Morris

When George Palmer walked into university as a young man, he had dreams of becoming a renowned music composer.

But it didn't feel like he belonged in the music department and he left after his first week.

George ended up following one of his mates into studying law instead.

And to his surprise, he ended up loving the human side of the law.

For the next 45 years, he climbed the ranks from barrister to Queen's Counsel and finally to judge in the New South Wales Supreme Court.

But through all those years of his public life in the law, George had a secret.

In every spare moment, he would return to his piano, scribbling down choral works, piano pieces, orchestral scores.

He had but no ambition for his music to ever be performed or heard by anyone.

He never spoke about composing with his colleagues or friends or even really his family.

Until one day, George's talents were uncovered here at the ABC, almost by chance.

George Palmer is now one of Australia's preeminent living composers.

His latest work is an operatic adaptation of Lea Purcell's The Drover's Wife.

Hi, George.

That's quite a journey.

So let's start at the place it all began, Cairo in Egypt.

How was it that you came to be born in Cairo?

In Egypt?

Okay.

Close to Cairo somewhere.

What were they doing in a military hospital tent in the Egyptian desert?