Hi, Malcolm can you tell us a little about your life and how you came to live in this corner of the world?
I’d be classified as a ‘baby boomer’, born in London, UK, in 1946. I spent my childhood in southern England and reached adulthood during that defining decade for Britain, the ‘swinging sixties’.
After graduation, I was employed by a US-based manufacturer as a computer systems engineer, based in the UK and Europe.
In 1977, I was given the opportunity to transfer to Victoria with my wife and two young sons (a nine-month-old and a two-year-old), it was an interesting flight I can tell you!
We stayed on, living in Melbourne for the next 39 years, and since the late ’80s, I’ve worked freelance.
I became familiar with Castlemaine through working as a member of the engineering team at Don KRC where I spent over a year living at the caravan park during the week, travelling home to Melbourne for the weekends.
You spend a lot of time advocating for action on climate change. How did you become interested in this issue?
Since moving to Castlemaine, I’ve grown to realise that it’s a community that cares, and is willing to participate in creating consensus, and acting decisively on both local and global issues.
I felt the alarming potential impacts of human-caused climate change were highlighted by the 2018 federal election result. My retirement coincided with the emergence of the global youth-driven movement for climate action following the election, which convinced me that urgent intergenerational climate justice is both essential and worth fighting for. It motivated me to join with a like-minded group of concerned locals in a six-month campaign that managed to convince Mount Alexander Council to join the many councils and governments (currently 2279 globally covering over 1 billion citizens) by declaring a Climate Emergency and implementing associated action plans.
Are there any philosophies you live life by?
Since that experience, I’ve attempted to view my life agency through a lens of ‘longtermism’, the idea that individuals can positively influence the long-term future. Quoting Jonas Salk, “Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors”.
Do you have other interests?
I used to love ice skate racing in Europe, then in Australia, I took up rollerskating. I also participated in triathlons for 25 years. At the age of 60, I took up mountain bike riding.
Who are your three dream dinner guests?
Three authors: Jeff Sparrow, a renowned left-wing, Ross Garnaut who is an amazing economist and I’m really impressed with Scott Ludlam who wrote Full Circle.
So no need to ask who you’re reading at the moment! Is there a particular genre of music you enjoy?
I have no musical ability, but I am really appreciative of musicians who can improvise. My main preference is jazz but I also really like classical music as a whole.
What do you enjoy most about the place you call home?
It’s occupants. I lived in Melbourne for the last 20 years and there’s no longer a feeling of belonging there. It’s so refreshing in Castlemaine, you can’t walk down Mostyn Street without stopping to have a chat with someone.