Gisborne writer, wife and mum of three Katrina Buttigieg tells Zoe Moffatt about her connection to Macedon Ranges and work running the Macedon Ranges Mumma Facebook group.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
I started my own copywriting business, Macedon Ranges Writers in 2018 so I could work flexibly around my family’s activities and commitments. I also run a local community/tourism social enterprise, Macedon Ranges Mumma.
What’s your connection to Macedon Ranges?
I grew up in Sunbury and come from a nature loving family, so many of our weekends during my childhood were spent walking Mount Macedon and Hanging Rock with our relatives, friends and
visitors from overseas. My husband is from Gisborne and we moved back out here before we started our family. I’ve travelled to many places around the world but I am always happy to come home to our beautiful Macedon Ranges.
What do you like about where you live?
I love living near the mountains. We are spoiled with a multitude of stunning bushwalks nearby, which make it easy to get out into nature. I also love the small town feel of our community.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
Our area is quite mono-cultural. I think it would be enriched if we had more people of various cultural backgrounds living here.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
There are too many to choose from but probably the walk to Sanitorium Lake. You feel like you are in an enchanted forest far from anywhere and yet it is just a 5 minute drive from Macedon.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you?
I was a Japanese teacher before I started my business, and lived in Japan after I graduated university. I love learning about other languages and cultures.
You run the Facebook group Macedon Ranges Mumma, tell us a bit about that and how it started?
When my three children were preschoolers, I was always searching for fun, affordable ideas to keep them busy but finding information on this was difficult. I started the Macedon Ranges Mumma website and Facebook page so other parents in the area could find all this information in one place. I share about local playgrounds, bushwalks, storytimes, family friendly events and markets, and ways to connect through playgroups, libraries, and online groups
I also support local businesses by running a monthly local business meetup group; and inviting businesses to collaborate via advertising on our website and socials, or joining our Shop Local Initiative, whereby locals buy a keyring and show it at participating businesses to receive special deals and when shopping locally.
