KATIE Murray was born in Canberra and moved to the Ovens Valley in 2007 where she started her stint in the north east in Harrietville, then Bright, followed by Myrtleford and has lived in Beechworth for the last five years.
What's your job?
I am a health professional, including a certified equine assisted learning practitioner (equine therapy for people) that I offer from our property with my team of four gorgeous horses and one equally gorgeous doggo; a health promotion practitioner and current full–time student in a Graduate Diploma of Counselling.
What brought you to this role?
When I was a little girl I wanted to spend my days with horses and people.
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As I grew up I had a passion for fitness, so turned that into being a personal trainer, then got bored and tired of that (including the very early mornings!) and started uni as a mature age student to find my way into health promotion.
After 10 years in that field my focus now is to move into mental health, continuing to offer equine assisted therapy as it meets the needs of so many people who may not otherwise engage in, or get results from, room based talk therapies.
What do you love about your job?
I am passionate about mental health and healing and love being in nature and working alongside horses and animals.
It is a privilege to support others on their journey of discovery, growth and healing.
I love the model of equine therapy we offer as its high quality, safe and ethical, with a rich network of practitioners and ongoing professional development.
What do you do in the community?
I've generally got my hands full juggling roles of mum, horse owner and general slave to the animals, grass farmer etc, but I always try to promote and support local events, music and food initiatives that support growing and eating local produce.
What's the most important current community issue for you?
The housing issue.
What would you do to solve, change or improve that situation?
Well, it is a broad issue, so requires a multi–faceted solution.
First and foremost though, I'd love to see amendments to council rulings on granny flats, tiny homes, multiple dwellings so the number of affordable housing options increase.
What's the most important current world issue for you?
The health and diversity of Mother Earth.
I'm looking forward to seeing the use of more renewable energy sources and sustainable solutions over the next few decades.
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?
Purely sentimental, that would have to be my dad (who passed away six years ago).
We would visit our property, the cemetery and the bakery.
Why would you show him that?
He loved visiting us in the North East of Victoria but never got to see our property here in Beechworth.
He particularly loved visiting Beechworth's cemetery and having me read the dates of birth, diverse backgrounds and war experiences of those laid to rest here. And he was a bit partial to sweet baked goods on a cold day... or any day for that matter.
What book are you reading?
A text book actually – I don't have time for novels. 'Working with Difference and Diversity in Counselling and Psychotherapy' which explores contemporary thinking on the constructs of difference, social identity and culture – very rich.
