KARIN Michelini was born in Reinbek, Germany and migrated to Australia with her French-German parents and two older siblings when she was 12 months old. Her family was temporarily housed in Bonegilla near Albury after arriving in the country and remained in North East Victoria.
Beechworth became their hometown, and to several more siblings as the family grew to 12 children. Karin started school at St Joseph's Primary. After moving away from the town in later years, Karin returned to Beechworth to live five years ago.
What's your job?
I worked in the wine industry for more than 30 years, and in radio, film, compering and in May this year hit the stage with an acting debut in Beechworth Theatre Company’s production of 'Trial and Error'.
What brought you to these roles?
A passion for adventure, people, food, wine, history, voice and film has led me on a fascinating journey encompassing all of these aspects.
What do you love about what you do?
With acting, becoming involved with the Beechworth Theatre Company (BTC) has re-opened my door to creative challenge and has re-enforced my old doctrine of “anything is possible – and age is no barrier”. With my passion for acting, I strongly urge anyone with a desire to perform, or become involved in the many aspects of stage, on or behind, to follow their own passion and join BTC which is a lot of fun.
What do you do in the community?
As part of the BTC, I work together with the team and we're all volunteers, to produce enjoyable plays to entertain our community. I also see myself as an ambassador for the town or “verbal advocate” for all things wonderful about Beechworth.
What’s the most important current community issue for you?
Preservation of Beechworth's history, infrastructure and land.
What would you do to solve, change or improve that situation?
I would like to see a continued awareness and guarding in the preserving of our unique heritage and history for the benefit of present and particularly future generations.
What’s the most important current world issue for you?
Wars – they’re still going on and are futile to me.
If the person you would most like to meet came to Indigo, or was already here, who would that be and what would you show them?
I would bring my overseas family, who have not ventured beyond their own backyards in Germany to show them this amazing country that my parents migrated to.
Why would you show your family that?
We are so blessed with freedom, diversity, beauty and history right around Australia. The sheer delights of dynamic Beechworth in so many ways and forms, rate highly on my ‘where I would want you to come and explore’ list. There are so many places around the shire too with so much history and wonderful surrounds.
What book are you reading?
I have just finished reading 'How I Clawed My Way to the Middle' by Gold Logie award-winning Australian actor and scriptwriter, John Wood. I enjoy reading about people's amazing backgrounds.