MADELEINE Quirk was born in Melbourne and moved to Beechworth ten years ago.
What do you do workwise?
I moved to Beechworth for a teaching position at Beechworth Secondary College. I’m now working at Rutherglen High School in administration.
What brought you to your role/career?
After years of working in corporate roles, I decided to return to university and become a teacher. I was looking for a more dynamic and meaningful career.
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What do you love about your work?
I really enjoy working with young people and helping them achieve their goals. It’s been great being part of the community in Beechworth and watching my students thrive in their lives after finishing school.
What do you do in the community?
I love volunteering. I’m on the committee for the Beechworth 2 Bridge walk for preventing suicide and tackling the stigma of mental illness. We walk from Beechworth to Bright over three days and we get people from all over to come together and support each other. Some walk to remember loved ones lost to suicide, others to share their own mental health journey and some to support family and friends. I’m lucky to drive the support bus for the three days and ferry the tired walkers when needed. Despite the serious issue we are promoting – as a group we have lots of laughs and hugs and celebration.
This year for Spring Ditch I will be also driving the shuttle bus to and from Stanley so everyone can have a great time listening to great music and participating in the fun and games – it’s a fantastic day for everyone.
You’ll also find me helping out with the fabulous Drag’d Out Festival.
I hadn’t been working for a while and volunteering had been a great way to stay connected to the community and meet fascinating people.
Is there an important community issue that you think needs addressing?
I would love to see a heated pool open all year round in Beechworth. I have auto-immune arthritis and hydrotherapy is an excellent way to stay active. There are many older people and people requiring assistance in town and I believe such a pool would be beneficial and well patronised.
What do you see as one of the most important current world issues?
Human rights violations – we are dealing with distressing news of conflicts where innocent people are continuingly being used as collateral by all sides. I believe we need a stronger international voice against these atrocities and a greater ability to prevent them happening.
If the person you would most like to meet came to Indigo Shire, or was already here, who would that be, what would you show them, and why?
I would love to meet American actor Alan Alda best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce on the TV series MASH. He is also a director, screenwriter, and author. I would love to take him out to all the wineries and eateries in the North East and talk about science and life and my favourite television show MASH.
What book are you reading?
“The Year I Met My Brain” by Matilda Boseley. It’s a ‘travel companion’ for people who have been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. I was recently diagnosed and it’s been a very eye-opening and relevant read.
