VICKI Knopers was born and raised in Wangaratta before heading off to the big smoke after completing high school.

She returned to the North East in 1984 and has lived in the area ever since with her husband Herman.

The couple moved to Stanley 13 years ago from Beechworth where they had lived for 25 years.

What's your job?

I have been retired for 12 years.

I was a member of Victoria Police for 35 years.

I joined Victoria Police before equal opportunity and policewomen's roles were separate to those of the men.

What brought you to the role?

The welfare of women and children was a main area of concern and what drew me to the job.

What did you love about your job?

The diversity of work.

With equal opportunity I worked general duties when it was rare to see a woman working the divisional van.

There were less than 300 women in the job then.

I developed the Police in Schools program in the North East and had many other roles during my career generally changing job location or job description every five years which kept it interesting and challenging.

What do you do in the community?

I have volunteered for many years, from Blue Light Discos and Beechworth Neighbourhood House (Quercus) in the early days to currently being vice–chair of Stanley Rural Community (SRC) and Australia Post nominee for Stanley community post office.

The post office is an important service to the community and operates with the assistance of volunteers.

I am also a friend of the Stanley Athenaeum and Stanley Landcare member.

What is the most important current community issue for you?

Our focus at the moment is recruiting and training volunteers for the post office so that it continues to service Stanley.

It operates from the old Stanley school along with programs which we'd like to develop more of to make it a hub for community learning and connection. Maintaining the school building and grounds without funding is also a challenge.

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

I encourage everyone with a few hours to spare to volunteer at the post office or with other community groups to keep our community vibrant and alive with a cross section of the community represented.

Beechworth Correction Centre when not in lockdown help us with the grounds and a call goes out to the community for working bees.

We're currently negotiating with the education department for a lease that will allow us to apply for grants for the upkeep of the school building.

If the person you'd most like to meet or was already here, who would it be and what would you show them?

I don't have anyone I'd particularly like to meet. Every day encounters bring connections and the unexpected.

I would show the natural beauty of Stanley and the Stanley Athenaeum.

What would you show people from those encounters?

Highlight the beauty and peace to be found in nature.

The Stanley Athenaeum is a treasure trove containing rare books, history of Stanley and its residents, and recent books for sale like 'Hearts of Gold, Minds of Mettle' researched and compiled by local women about pioneering women.

What book are you reading?

I'm not currently reading a book. I'm a member of the Stanley book club and looking forward to reading our next book 'Being Mortal' by Atul Gawald.