JANE O’Grady was born in the Melbourne suburb of Camberwell and grew up in Wangaratta from a very early age.

She spent a third of her adult years in Europe and two thirds in Melbourne, before finally returning to the North East in September last year to live in Beechworth.

"I have a renewed appreciation for this glorious part of the world and a determination to never leave,” Jane said.

What do you do workwise?

I’m a teacher of Italian.

I’m also writing a novel which is something I’ve wanted to do my whole life.

What brought you to your role/career?

My passion for languages and cultures, which was given full expression in my seven years in Germany and my two years in Northern Italy.

I formalised that interest with a degree in European Languages and a Master of Applied Linguistics at Melbourne University and I won a number of scholarships that allowed me to return to Europe to specialise in various aspects of language, such as translation.

Teaching was a practicable way to share my love of language with others.

What do you love about your work?

I love it when the students experience an ‘aha’ moment: when grammar rules suddenly make sense.

I love making the language classroom as fun as possible for them.

Working with children in a contemporary school setting can be challenging, but it is nonetheless rewarding.

I love learning about their own linguistic and literacy practices and attempting to incorporate them into their learning experience.

I enjoy seeing their kindness and uniqueness emerge.

What do you do in the community?

I began an Italian conversation group that meets once a month, simply for people of all abilities to practise the language and to experience the joy of talking about culture.

Is there an important community issue that you think needs addressing?

My experience of the community in Beechworth has been overwhelmingly positive.

I have never felt so ‘held’ by a place.

What I see is a wealth of cultural initiatives and events, and a genuine care within the community for the less fortunate, such as the Quercus Pantry.

I don’t think I’ve been here long enough to identify an issue.

What do you see as one of the most important current world issues?

The destruction of the Palestinian people by Israel and America, and the rest of the world’s powerlessness to stop it.

Tracy Chapman’s song ‘Talking about a revolution’ brings me to tears - may we truly learn to love each other and live in peace.

If some of the people you would most like to meet or knew, came to Indigo Shire (past or present), or were already here, who would they be, what would you show them, and why?

I would love for my dearest German and Italian friends to come and visit.

I would take them riding on the rail trail, and to Yeddonba - one of the most spectacular and spiritually rich places I have experienced here.

What book are you reading?

I’m just beginning ‘Carpentaria’ by Alexis Wright - long overdue.