Friends of Kororoit Creek president Jessica Gerger talks to Ben Cameron about her unique upbringing, her one-woman comedy show and her vision of keeping Brimbank beautiful.
How long have you lived at Sunshine?
My family and I moved into Sunshine about three years ago. We came directly from London. We somehow ended up in Sunshine. We looked around and really liked the area, loved the people, and found a great house on the creek. Just moving next to the creek fuelled my passion for it. I sort of had my hand in plantings and odd things, so it gradually snowballed.
Have you always had environmental interests?
My parents have always been activists of some sort. I don’t really remember planting many trees, but we were involved in the community, politically. It’s just sort of grown over the years, especially after we had our daughter, sort of through a concern for her future more than anything.
Where were you born?
I was born in Vienna. My mother’s American and my father is Austrian. I spent a good part of my formative years in Sydney, then went to high school in Vienna, then on to London. My mother was born in Texas to an opera singer father, who travelled to Europe to sing in the opera houses there, so the kids grew up in Europe, speaking German, and she met my father in Austria at a local fencing club. The rest is history.
What jobs did you do before you had a child?
All my family are in the arts. I studied drama in London for three years and pursued acting. Mostly theatre, that’s where my passion lies. I find telling people a story in the moment, getting that reaction, is a fun thing. I’ve got a one-person show that I toured around the comedy festivals in 2008, the Adelaide Fringe and the Melbourne Comedy Festival, which we’re turning into an environmental show for children. It’s about plastics and dangers to the ocean. I’m working on it with my mother who’s a director, so we’ll start work on it in February.
Are you still actively involved in comedy?
I’ve been pulling away from the industry. I find my passion’s more in the environment. I think that’s a good combination for the kids’ show, the skills I have and the passions I have.
What are your plans for Kororoit Creek?
Getting active members, who will get out there and plant trees. We need to work on the litter aspect as well. I’m also part of Beautiful Brimbank; our aim is very much aimed at getting litter off the streets and the creek.
Tell me about your home life?
I’m married to Andrew Robb, a local actor, producer and local filmmaker, who made a movie called Tofu Man. Living in Sunshine, it’s an absolute joy to walk out of the door and walk along the creek with our dogs.
Does it concern you SBS might be featuring Sunshine in its show, Struggle Street?
I think it is a bit dangerous to cast Sunshine in that struggling light, as there is so much positive stuff happening here. I think we do tend to get tarred with that brush of being poor and downtrodden, but I think it’s a real generalised view.
