NAOMI Ingleton was born in Gippsland and grew up spending time between there and Melbourne.
Moving to the North East for three weeks work in 2000, she never left the region living in Beechworth for two years from that time before shifting around the King and Alpine valleys with a return to Beechworth about four years ago.
What's your job?
Don't they say if you love what you do you'll never work a day in your life?
I have had a couple of jobs in town. Running a food and agriculture accelerator program for start–up businesses and kitchen garden teacher at Saint Joseph's Primary School last year.
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This year I'm focussing on my own business FarmacyCo – a little herbal apothecary and juice bar in the main street.
I also consult to food businesses on product development mainly in the dairy industry that me travelling around the county.
What brought you to the last two roles?
I'm an Ayurvedic practitioner where one practices preventive healthcare and promotes health and well–being using diet and lifestyle, and am studying a Bachelor in Health Science in Western Herbal Medicine.
As for consulting, I ran the Myrtleford Butter Factory for 15 years making butter, so I get a lot of companies wanting me to help out with their production.
What do you love about your job?
I love sharing my knowledge with people, meeting people from all walks of life and making products that can help them through illness and also to maintain health.
What do you do in the community?
I'll be back volunteering at the school with the kitchen garden program this year and I'm always ready to help out hospitality businesses in town when they are short staffed.
What's the most important current community issue for you?
Staff and housing shortages is a major issue for all businesses in the area.
What would you do to solve, change or improve that situation?
It's a real conundrum.
We need tourists to support our businesses but at the same time Airnbns have taken many of the long–term accommodation out of the market.
It's a national issue as well as COVID having had an impact on itinerant workers in Australia.
Hospitality is suffering from plenty of other historical issues too.
I don't have any answers.
What's the most important current world issue for you?
Apart from a global pandemic, homelessness and statelessness.
We are so lucky to live in Australia.
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?
There's no one in particular but I love taking people to the Yeddonba Aboriginal Cultural Site in Chiltern–Mt Pilot National Park.
It's a shame it's been closed to public for so long now.
Why do you love showing people that?
It's one of the only local First Nations' sites where we can see rock artwork that illustrates the art of the Dhudhuroa people.
It is a sacred space that has a powerful ambiance where you can feel the magical wisdom of generations as you explore the rock formations and it's a great spot for meditation.
What book are you reading?
I'm mainly reading university course work at the moment but for fun I'm reading 'Energetic Herbalism' by Kat Maier.
