Passionate about community engagement

HANNAH Hunt was born in the United States and moved to Australia in 2009 during the recession. She has lived in Beechworth for the last two and a half years. What do you do workwise? I currently work as a customer service officer. What brought you to your role/career? This role is a part of a bigger journey for me. I’m passionate about community engagement or outreach work. I saw this position as a valuable opportunity to stay connected with the public while gaining hands-on experience towards my long-term goals. What do you love about your work? While it may not be my ultimate career destination, this role has been valuable. It’s strengthened my communication skills, deepened my understanding of community dynamics, and taught me how to work effectively with a wide range of people. I see this as an important stepping stone that’s helping me build the skills and confidence I’ll need in future roles focused on community impact. What do you do in the community? I am the community engagement coordinator, health wellbeing officer and an active firefighter for the Beechworth Fire Brigade, as well as an adult Scout leader for 1st Beechworth Victoria Scout Group. With CFA, it's about protecting the community in critical moments. With Scouts, it’s about preparing the next generation with the skills and values to thrive. Both roles challenge me, keep me grounded, and let me give back in meaningful ways. They also offer ongoing opportunities to learn new skills – whether it's emergency response techniques, leadership strategies, or mentoring approaches. Are there any important community issues that you think need addressing? Roads require upgrades to improve safety and accessibility, public transport options are poor or non-existent, and improving communications infrastructure. What would you do to solve change or improve those situations? To improve the situations, working with the appropriate stakeholders to explore ways to maintain and repair roads, advocate to transport providers for better weekend public transport options, and help identify opportunities or incentives for someone to start or re-establish a local cab service. Also expand reliable high-speed internet and mobile coverage. By investing in better roads, transport and communications we can strengthen the community’s connection and support local businesses, residents and have the resources they need to thrive. What do you see as one of the most important current world issues? Misinformation and digital threats – the spread of false or misleading information online, often amplified by AI, is weakening public trust in governments, elections, and honest communication. Addressing this issue requires international collaboration, stronger digital education, and clear, balanced policies to help protect democratic values and social stability. 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? Entrepreneur Timothy Ferriss – he’s all about optimising life, learning quickly, and pushing boundaries—physically, mentally, and professionally. I’d love to hear how he thinks rural communities like ours can adopt smart strategies to support wellbeing, remote work, and innovation. I’d take Tim on a tour of Indigo Shire’s best hiking and sightseeing spots. We’d get outdoors, reset the mind, and challenge the body. Then we’d use our Argentine grill at home to cook meals with local high-quality produce and meats. What book are you reading? I am reading ‘Unseen Academicals’ by the late English author Sir Terry Pratchett OBE. I am in the mood for reading all the series.

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