Steven North was born in Beechworth and ventured out into the world studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Warrnambool before living in the Springvale/ Keysborough area of Melbourne. He moved back to Beechworth with his family on Christmas Eve 2013. What do you do work wise? I am a disability support worker. What brought you to your role/career? I was bought to the role of a disability support worker by two things – chance and life experience. My daughter, Izobel was born with Skraban-Deardorff syndrome. Izobel has an intellectual disability and through her care, I chose to work with people living with a disability. What do you love about your work? Out of any employment roles I have ever had, being a disability support worker has been the most rewarding. It is a privilege to support, provide care for, advocate for and work with disabled people in trying to achieve their goals. What do you do in the community? I volunteer my services to the Spring Ditch Festival and Metal in the Mountains Festival. In the past I have volunteered at the Beechworth Music Festival and continue that with Spring Ditch. Festival organisers Lex and Rikki are remarkable people, who have brought an absolute asset to Beechworth in the form of musical festivals. Every time it comes around, I am happy drop what I am doing to help in any way. Is there an important community issue that needs addressing? There are so many issues that need addressing, but one highly prominent one is the housing crisis. Locals not being able to reside in their hometowns and an alarming rate of homelessness in our nation. What would you do to solve the change or improve that situation? Far greater minds than mine have been left with few workable solutions regarding this. Somehow there needs to be a greater supply of more affordable housing solutions, whether that is a rent to buy government initiative. Or tax incentives to investors for long term leases to tenants. What do you see as one of the most important current world issues? The impact of the internet and artificial intelligence on humanities capacity to navigate reality. Literacy rates are plummeting, reasoned thought is atrophying, and attention spans are dwindling. 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? Outsider artist extraordinaire Gary McCosh from Warrnambool. I would love to get his work exhibited at Beechworth Contemporary Art space. Gary’s work is an amazing mélange of social commentary, dad jokes and paintings expertly carried out in Art Brut fashion. I would also love to get Gary’s take on the town centre blue signs fiasco. What book are you reading? “Live Forever. The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Oasis” by John Robb. A tome on what is the world’s last and great traditional rock ‘n roll band. God bless, the Gallagher Brothers.
