Brandon Burns has got that special some thing.

Charismatic, friendly and cheeky, he is also genuine as all get out.

The outgoing and highly capable fruit and vegetable manager at Harrison’s IGA, is largely the life of the place.

Barndon is the agile person climbing the walls and the ladders to decorate the shop for Christmas and Rainbow on the Plains, the one handling many tasks at once, and still with a smile and mischievous remark.

He grew up with a loving and stable family unit. Son of Craig and Toni Burns, and little brother to Matthew, Brandon had both sides of each parent’s family in his life and within the region.

“I always had this love for planes,” he said. “My nan would take me out to the airport each day so I could watch the mail plane take off.”

Brandon has always been motivated and entrepreneurial.

Beginning his journey selling garlic and vegetables, he would use this extra money to fund various adventures.

He was involved in the Sunday morning cy cling group for a long time.

They would cycle 30 kilometres, and sometimes to Maude and back for fun.

“Dan Tripney and I would have a friendly competition, to see who could cycle the fastest,” he laughed.

“It was something I really enjoyed, being out on the bike, it was relaxing. Sometimes I would listen to music, but sometimes I would just enjoy the silence.” He also took part in the Great Vic Bike Ride, from Lakes Entrance to Phillip Island, spanning more than 500 kilometres, over some nine days.

During his high school years Brandon would volunteer at 2Hay FM radio station, assisting Wes with the weekly Hot 30 Count down and music news.

Once he finished school, Brandon applied to a scholarship foundation to walk the Ko koda Track.

Of the 4,000 who applied, about 70 ended up being selected.

From there, two people had their entire trip paid for, and Brandon was one of those lucky two.

The 100-kilometre walk took the group nine days, and Brandon said it was the best experi ence and something he would definitely do again given the chance.

“You knew it was 5pm every day, as around that time the rain would come,” he said.

“We would be in the villages along the way, kicking the soccer ball with the children.”

Brandon was also honoured to meet the last Fuzzy Wuzzy angel, Havala Laula.

The name, Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel, was a term of endearment Australian troops gave to the local Papua New Guinea villagers who were recruited during the Second World War to bring supplies to Australian troops and to evacuate injured soldiers.

Their role was invaluable. Around 2,000 Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and 650 Australian soldiers died in the effort.

Knowing no one when he set out on the trek, Brandon, being Brandon, made plenty of friends while on the trip.

“It was the first time overseas without my parents, and it was scary, but I had a great time,” he said.

“It all happened quickly, having my Year 12 formal the night before, then leaving Australia the next day.”

Brandon has so many photos of his time on the Kokoda Track, the experience clearly mak ing a huge and positive impact.

Brandon won Young Citizen of the Year in 2015. His journey with IGA was just a hop, skip and a jump across the road.

“I’d just come back from America, and I was working at Macker’s Meats with family,” Brandon recalled.

“I felt it was just time for a change, so I walked across the road, and approached the Harrisons for a job.

The very next week they started me in the fruit and vegetable depart ment, working alongside Lisa Seaman.”

Nearly 10 years later, Brandon is the man ager of the department, and the freshness of the produce is second to none.

Intense attention to detail and stock processes are very important to Brandon.

“I have had a green thumb my whole life,” he chuckled.

“Even before the days I used to sell my produce on the highway.

"I still sell it on the highway, just the opposite end.”

After completing his schooling, he met his partner and now fiancée Wyatt Morriss.

They hit it off very well from the start, with Brando and a friend travelling to Whitton to pick Wyatt up regularly so they could hang out, and go to the movies in Griffth.

Over time, they caught the travel bug, and started jet-setting around the world together. They first went to Thailand, and never stopped.

Brandon’s travel portfolio includes San Francisco, L.A, Vegas and San Diego, Kokoda, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Thailand twice, Noumea, South Pacific Island three times, New Zealand twice.

The couple will visit Japan in the next couple of months, and Port Vila next month.

His love affair with all things labelled Coke began when he was young.

“We began collecting Macdonald’s glasses when they were doing the promotion, when I was little, he recalled.

“I really liked them, and when the second lot came out, I figured I would collect them too.”

Before long, Brandon had a vast collection of different Coke branded items, including a bike, a jukebox, phones, a yoyo and eskies.

A dedicated Collingwood supporter, and a member of the club for a very long time, Brandon tries to get to Melbourne at least twice a year to see his team play.

Not only is Brandon an avid food lover, he is a fantastic cook. “Both mum and dad are really good cooks, and food has always been important, the passion of food would have come from a young age,” he said.

“I particularly like cooking and eating Asian cuisine, and I believe the more prep work involved the better the dish.”

Wyatt is far from a keen cook, but they work well together, and share all other chore responsibilities.

Brandon and Wyatt ran a highly successful Bed and Breakfast (B and B) in town.

Their pet friendly policy made it easier for people travelling between Adelaide and Sydney.

Brandon would clean the premises each day during his lunch break. “It was hard work but we loved every bit of it,” he said.

“You would get the odd ones that wouldn’t respect the place at all, but most were great and we have made many lifelong friends.”

After a time, government red tape resulted in the couple making the decision to stop running the B and B.

Brandon began keeping bees four years ago, and has rescued hives of bees from many people’s properties.

“I was in the garden, doing work in my vegetable patch one time, and thought it would be a great idea to start keeping bees,” he laughed.

“It’s really fun, and something to do.” These days, Brandon and Wyatt live in do mestic bliss in the gorgeous home they made together.

They have three dogs; a Frug named Pablo and two Pugs named Lola and Dexter. Brandon tinkers with his latest hobby, Minis, and has a canary yellow Mini he has carefully and painstakingly restored.

Friends and family are the most important thing in Brandon’s life. “I wouldn’t be who I am, and life would not be the same about the people dearest to me,” he said.

Brandon is one inspiring character. He not only lives life to the full, it is jam packed with fun, different interests, and al ways leaving room for laughter.

The best aspect of Brandon however, is his lack of artifice.

He cares so much and would put himself out to help whoever needed a helping hand.