ELLA Versteege was born in Dandenong, Victoria and grew up on a plant nursery in the Dandenong Ranges. She moved to Beechworth in late 2020 with her husband as the couple had craved an escape from COVID lockdowns and sought a more relaxed lifestyle for their young family.

What do you do workwise?

I have worked in the fashion and textiles industries for more than 20 years, designing apparel, textiles and homewares primarily. I may have designed some funky dog collars, brand identities and album covers too. Nowadays I work as a designer and consultant across interior, product and graphic design. I am much more selective about the brands and products I work on, with sustainability being a really important issue to me personally. I am in the process of developing products for my own label, with the ultimate aim of being completely circular and producing no waste.

What brought you to your role/career?

I’ve had a love of art and design from a young age. I studied graphic design at RMIT when I finished VCE, but as a very idealistic young person found it to be too commercially focussed. I turned instead to fine arts and completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Printmaking. I always knew I would work as a designer in some sense, and as I moved through my career I found myself drawn to the tactility of fabric and textiles.

What do you love about your work?

I love that I get to work with colour on a daily basis. Colour energises and inspires me infinitely.

What do you do in the community?

I was on the Beechworth Kinder committee for two years and through that I met a broad group of talented, dedicated Early Childhood educators and fellow parents. Now through my children’s school we take part in the local festivals and events, which is great fun. As a busy mum I wish I could contribute more to this amazing community. Let’s just say it’s on my (long) to-do list! I had the chance to return to my fine art practice after a long hiatus, and entered some works in Beechworth Art Council’s’ Art in Autumn’ exhibition – a fantastic community event.

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

The lack of childcare places available for the many young families who call Beechworth home.

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

Climate change is an urgent issue, one that I fear we are missing the opportunity to have a significant impact on.

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

I would be humbled if the late, great landscape painter John Olsen AO OBE came to our region and shared his wondrous, lyrical interpretation of our divine landscape. I’d love to watch him paint, perched on the top of Mount Pilot.

What book are you reading?

I’ve just started reading a really interesting book called ‘An Immense World’ by Ed Yong, a contemporary science writer, who examines the vast sensory differences between animals and humans. Intriguing and quite magical. I think even John Olsen himself would enjoy it.