Community advocate Ingrid Magtengaard is involved with the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce and Life Saving Victoria as she explains to Anne Parisanne.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Ingrid Magtengaard. I’m a community advocate. I currently serve as the project lead for the diversity and inclusion committee of Life Saving Victoria and as the membership liaison at the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce. There is something lovely about creating shared memories with the same name; my grandmother, mother, daughter and I are all called Ingrid. The story of my surname, however, should start……once upon a time, there lived three Danish brothers, Mr Peterson lived on level 1, Mr Peterson lived on level 2 and Mr Peterson lived on level 3 of the same building. Mr Peterson was tired of receiving Mr & Mr Peterson’s posts, so he created a name…. ‘Mr Magtengaard’ and lived happily ever after reading his own mail.
Tell us about your most recent work.
My last 12 months have been the most rewarding, working with both Williamstown Chamber of Commerce and the Williamstown Swimming & Life Saving Club. I have felt compelled to step forward with urgency to increase membership; to advocate on behalf of our business precinct, visitor’s economy, and iconic WS&LSC pool. Regardless of whether you’re a lifesaver, nipper, silver salty, trader, or tourist operator, together, we all build strong, healthy communities through collaboration.
What work you do in the community?
My early career started with ‘rolled up sleeves’, in a tent and four-wheel drive, growing an Aboriginal economic development consultancy in remote Australia. I understand the strength of strongly connected communities.So, gave myself permission to be purposefully parochial and committed to volunteering in Willy. As past vice president of Williamstown High School Board and Williamstown Swimming & Life Saving Club, I enjoy influencing success through education.
What is your connection to Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay?
It is the place I call home and my community that I am part of that is something bigger than me.
What do you like about where you live?
The promise of the undiscovered, be it a new friend, another titbit of history, or a joyful, unexpected conversation in Coles.
What are some of your favourite places to visit or favourite things to do in the area?
I will often take my work laptop, sit watching, and tap away at the water’s edge at Willy. As a yellow school-bus, Flying Doctors, ABC kid; born in Ceduna, I grew up playing around silos and the Port Thevenard jetty. I never tire of watching the busyness of the port from across the bay, having learnt to read the shipping news on my Dad’s lap.
How has the place where you live influenced your work?
It has influenced me to keep working in the community and to get to know my village. As I came from Canberra, I no longer wanted to think in terms of international diplomacy or how best to inform our national narrative. Instead, I decided to look down at my toes and work outwards from there. My first job was at The Old Style Butcher. On my first day, I nearly fainted. Being fanned in the cool room was not how I envisaged getting to know my village. I thought it would be a great way to meet everyone, but found myself not remembering names, rather what they had ordered. No one wants to be known as ‘snags’!
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you.
I have two Aboriginal children who are deeply connected with their Gija culture. This sustains my social justice campaigning for equity and inclusion, as our diversity is reflected in the very DNA of my family.
