NEIL Funston was born in Melbourne and lived there for the first 25 years of his life before a move to far North Queensland for work, then shifted to North East Victorian town of Rutherglen in 1995 followed by a move to Beechworth.
"So, more than 25 years in North East Victoria and three years in Beechworth," he said.
What's your job?
In theory I am retired but I am a project manager/food process engineer and I am working on a project in Rutherglen at the moment – it's local so that is fun.
What brought you to this role?
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My first job was with Kraft Foods in Port Melbourne and from the first day I was hooked on food processing.
I love using my mind to create things.
What do you love about your job?
I am a very creative person and I just love developing processes that make products for our supermarket shelves.
There are many iconic products that I have been involved in.
What do you do in the community?
I am very community minded and try and get involved in local activities.
I am a director at BeyondHousing helping homeless people with social housing.
I am also an ambassador for White Ribbon and my wife Robyn and I do a lot of work for Share The Dignity (www.sharethedignity.org.au) trying to eliminate period poverty.
I am also a presenter on community radio, Indigo FM.
What's the most important current community issue for you?
Undoubtedly the lack of affordable, suitable and appropriate housing.
Everyone deserves a house to live in.
This is a major issue for our region.
What would you do to solve, change or improve that situation?
If I had a magic wand I would open up some new tracts of land for housing, but I know that this is a long process.
Rezoning the land is the easy bit.
But the infrastructure surrounding it like services including water, power and sewerage are the roadblocks in my opinion.
What's the most important current world issue for you?
Power generation is a major issue for Australia but also the world.
I am a nuclear power convert and renewables need to combine with nuclear to eliminate emissions.
We can never eliminate emissions using coal and gas fired power stations.
Seven million people die from air pollution every year, a lot of that is from car emissions but a lot comes from power stations.
Nuclear power is actually half the price of solar power to produce.
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?
Dick Smith.
I haven't actually met him but I have spoken to him on the phone about some of his food projects.
I would love to show him the Beechworth Gorge and take him on the scenic bush walk.
He is a great Australian.
Why would you show him that?
Because it's beautiful and a there is lot of gold history through there, especially the Chinese involvement.
Dick is such an adventurer he would love to get dirty going on that walk.
What book are you reading?
Not surprisingly – 'Dick Smith My Adventurous Life'.
