The rise and fall of the notorious Steve Vizard
Having forged a career as a successful businessman and TV comedian - winning two Gold Logies along the way - Steve Vizard was thought of as an not only a trusted community member but as an Australian celebrity and icon. However, the Leonie Woods biography, Funny Business: the rise and fall of Steve Vizard, reveals a life of greed, treachery and disgrace behind this very public persona
Title: Funny Business: The rise and fall of Steve Vizard
Author: Leonie Wood
Publisher: Arena
RRP: $35
All of corporate Australia knows of the story of Steve Vizard's fall from grace. What started off as some curious cheque transactions and mysterious looking into Vizard's personal records triggered an investigation that would eventually unravel in epic proportions.
In 2005, to the shock and disbelief of the corporate world, Vizard stood accused of insider trading.
The accusations were splattered across newspapers nationwide, leaving this once-respected businessman's reputation in tatters.
Many were left shocked, angry and betrayed at Vizards actions. This was a man who was on the boards of countless companies and who fostered good causes through the charitable Vizard Foundation.
However, while the 'what' has been explained in numerous publications, many are left asking the question "why". Why did the man who seemed to have it all throw it all away?
As a senior journalist at The Age, with 20 years' experience, Leonie Wood sought to answer this question in her biography of Vizard.
Through court transactions and interviews with Vizard's friends and enemies, Wood discovers a man who was a master of deception, whose public persona was merely a charade.
Readers are exposed to the "real" Steve Vizard, who ultimately had his reputation crushed - but never his bank balance, as Wood so cheekily reveals.
The only complaint is that Wood tends to skim over the 'before' of Vizard's life. And while there is no denying the criminal charges and Vizard's subsequent fall from grace are the most interesting facets of his life, in a biography the readers may be expecting more of the history behind the man.
However, in saying that, Wood does spell out that while promising to document Vizard's life in the biography, the main purpose of the book is to answer the question of why he did it?
So is she able to deliver this? In a straightforward answer: yes. Wood is able to delve deeper into the scandal than any other author to date.
However, with the man himself having no input into the book, readers may question how much does anyone really know of what drove one of Australia's most prominent figures to into such a downward spiral of power, greed and disgrace.
And unless Vizard tells us himself, we may never know the complete answer.
