MIEKE Bosland was born in Pambula – a town in Bega Valley Shire on the far south coast of NSW – and has lived in Beechworth for 17 years.

What do you do workwise?

I’m a singer/songwriter and work as a musician around Indigo Shire and surrounds.

I also work with Youth Affairs Council Victoria where I share my lived experience as a young LGBTQIA+ person living in regional Victoria.

I share feedback from LGBTQIA+ peers and aim to create positive change for our local LGBTQIA+ community.

What brought you to your role/career?

I began songwriting at age 16 and began to play gigs sharing my music.

I started off small, busking and playing at markets, and with exposure and experience I was able to play at bigger events.

Songwriting became a rewarding way for me to express myself, and a mental health tool to better understand myself.

I play a mix of folk and jazz inspired pop and have enjoyed learning music production at Wodonga TAFE last year to expand the kind of music I can create.

What do you love about your work?

Playing at LGBTQIA+ events such as LINE Wangaratta’s Pride Fair Days are some of my favourite events to perform at.

I am able to share my stories through music and advocate for LGBTQIA+ people, stand against homophobia, and be a part of creating a space where people feel safe to be their authentic selves and find their people.

What do you do in the community?

I am a part of the Indigo Shire Council’s Future Proof advisory group where I work with a group of passionate young people to promote connectedness within our community through events.

I was stage manager for an event in Yackandandah called “Unite Indigo” where I was able to create opportunities for regional musicians to play locally while also bringing a big headliner to the event, which is rarely possible in small towns.

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

I would love to see more opportunities for regional people to be involved in creative projects locally, especially with a focus on LGBTQIA+ pride, such as short films, and art pieces, without needing to travel to the city to gain industry experience in a chosen field.

What would you do to solve change, improve that situation?

“Now I See Colour – A Pride Music Video” will accompany my original song “Black and White” and will offer opportunities for LGBTQIA+ people to gain experience behind the scenes or on screen.

This is an exciting new project for our region, and I encourage anyone interested in being involved to contact me at miekesmusik@gmail.com.

If the person you would most like to meet or knew, came to Indigo Shire (past or present), or was already here, who would that be, what would you show them, and why?

I recently took my mother to visit the Stanley Magic Forest where we spent time journaling and reflecting amongst the beautiful trees.

People in Indigo Shire should experience this place.

I find the energy out there to be so peaceful, grounding and inspiring.

What book are you reading?

As someone with dyslexia, I mostly listen to audio form content.

“Goes Without Saying” by Sephy and Wing is a podcast I have cherished for the past few years.

Their discussions have shaped the way I view the world, empowered me to know my worth, and explored societal issues surrounding womanhood – this has been invaluable to me as a young adult.