CANADIAN–BORN Helene Maling arrived in Australia from Toronto with her parents when she was three years old. In her later years she lived in Melbourne from where she made a tree–change to Beechworth close to six years ago.

What's your job?

I've taken a career break until next year to enjoy country living and getting involved in the local community.

Since being in the town, I have also enjoyed working in fashion retail at Beechworth's Kathryn Hammerton, Rebus and the former Creswick Natural Fibres.

What brought you to the fashion retail roles?

In my past career I spent 30 plus years as a buyer and a national retail operations manager.

I have been fortunate to work for premium brands like Perri Cutten, Anthea Crawford, Polo Ralph Lauren and R.M. Williams.

My work encompassed all business aspects of marketing, advertising, human resources (HR), team management and development, and product development.

What did you love about your jobs?

I've always enjoyed the interaction with customers and in the past really enjoyed team building as well as training and mentoring younger people.

I loved my work and travelled extensively within Australia.

What do you do in the community?

When I first arrived in Beechworth, I really didn't know anyone, so I volunteered at the Salvation Army.

I made an instant friend in Josie Cornish and she introduced me to many wonderful people in town.

I particularly enjoyed our weekly trips to Food Share in Wodonga where we would return with a carload of healthy delicious food to assist families in need in the Beechworth community.

I would also make a casserole or two from the trip to Food Share and this would be enjoyed at the community Sunday lunch.

What's the most important community issue for you?

I'm concerned that there is not enough for young people to do in gaining work or skills for their career and they often need to leave town. There seems to be a gap.

What would you do to solve, change or improve that situation?

Encourage businesses to help young people in gaining skills with a first job that might be in retail for example.

Young people could also be encouraged to be volunteers in some community organisations where skills could be learned as well.

What's the most important current world issue for you?

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has touched my life as it has most people I know.

I am ever so grateful to be an Australian and really do value our lifestyle here

If the person you would most like to meet came to Indigo, who would that be and what would you show them?

I can't think of anyone in particular, however I do get a great pleasure in playing tour guide to Melbourne friends and family with visits to Woolshed Falls, the Gorge, Chinese Burning Towers in the Beechworth Cemetery and Mayday Hills always on the list.

I love being in nature and celebrating our history.

We certainly are spoilt for choice here in Beechworth.

Why do you show your friends these places of interest?

We are so blessed living in the North East with its history and where nature abounds.

What book are you reading?

'The Celestine Prophecy' by James Redfield for the second time.