Indigo Interview: A chance to give back

HELEN Lowndes was born in Beechworth and raised in Stanley on an apple, cherry and chestnut orchard. She left the area for extended periods of time, but something always drew Helen back to her hometown. What do you do workwise? My husband Gary and I own Beechworth Machinery & Mowers – I look after the bookwork, customer service and socials, while Gary is in the workshop with our mechanic. What brought you to your role/career? Hearing the business was about to close after servicing the community for 25 years was the catalyst for us taking a leap of faith and buying the business. We have never done anything like this before, but we knew how important the service was to the community, and felt it was our time to give back. What do you love about your work? Being able to bring my dog to work. And of course, being my own boss. It is really rewarding helping our customers find the right product for their specific needs and fixing machinery that might otherwise end up in landfill. What do you do in the community? I am proud to be involved in the B2B walk which connects people with lived experience of suicide loss, mental illness and survival. I am also the official “ferret lady” at the annual Good Friday Appeal Family Fun Day at the Eldorado Tavern. This is a fun day for everyone and last year we raised almost $25,000. I am a Shero (volunteer) with Share the Dignity, a charity that works to make a real, on-the-ground difference to the lives of women, girls and those who menstruate who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, domestic violence or poverty by distributing period products to those in need. Is there an important community issue that you think needs addressing? With the taxi service closing, I think it is imperative that we have a reliable transport option for the elderly, or anyone who doesn’t drive, to get to doctor appointments, shopping and other outings. Feeling connected to community is incredibly important for good mental health and without transport it is hard to feel connected. What would you do to solve change or improve that situation? I think the only short-term solution is a volunteer roster. I wish I had time to organise it but hopefully someone else might take up the baton. For elderly Beechworth residents I hope they are aware of the transport services through the council’s My Aged Care program. What do you see as one of the most important current world issues? Greed and a frightening return to some pre-WWII ideologies. If the person you would most like to meet or knew, came to Indigo Shire or was already here, who would that be, what would you show them, and why? Mataio (Matt) Brown, founder of She Is Not Your Rehab - an anti-violence movement created to address and dismantle cycles of intergenerational trauma, violence and abuse. I would love to watch the sunset from Mount Pilot while chatting about this incredible movement Matt started in his barber shop in New Zealand. I would also ask them to visit the Beechworth Correctional Centre to talk to the men about ways to self-heal, for themselves and the next generation. What book are you reading? ‘Running with Scissors’ by American writer Augusten Burroughs.

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