Brooklyn’s Richard Mataska spent eight years playing piano at Melbourne’s most prestigious bars before returning to uni to complete an education degree and becoming a corporate trainer.
He tells Goya Dmytryshchak of his love for Brooklyn.
What’s your connection to Hobsons Bay?
My grandfather built the house I’m living in and it has been home to four generations of my family.
I was raised by a single mother who had a heart as big as a whale and loving grandparents who shaped me into the person I am today.
I have a gorgeous wife and four-month-old baby daughter, who melts my heart every day.
I’m a lucky man.
I’m blessed with some wonderful neighbours too, many of whom I’ve known since childhood, so I really feel a deep sense of connection with Brooklyn.
What do you like about Brooklyn?
Brooklyn actually has a pretty strong sense of community.
We talk to each other when we pass on the street.
We help each other out.
Many of us participate in community forums so there’s a solid grapevine that connects us.
What would you change?
I’m quite concerned about the rate and scale of development in our area.
While moderate development can contribute positively to the existing character, unbridled development poses real threats to our amenity and preferred neighbourhood character.
I’m comforted that Hobsons Bay council has established a forum [participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au] where we can share our thoughts and contribute to the strategic planning of the communities we live in.
I’m very much looking forward to reading the draft Hobsons Bay 2030 plan, which I understand is due for release in the near future.
This will serve as meaningful reference point for further community discourse/involvement.
What’s your favourite local cafe and/or eatery?
This would have to be Nick’s Pizza, near the corner of Millers and Geelong roads.
It’s a second-generation business which has survived for such a long time for a really good reason: their pizzas are sensational!
Danny (son of Nick) now runs the show and continues the wonderful legacy established by his father.
If you haven’t dined here yet, then do yourself a favour.
What are you passionate about and why?
With a beautiful four-month old baby at home, scope to pursue passions nowadays is a bit of a luxury.
That said, I do take a lot of pleasure from working in my front garden.
I’m really looking forward to springtime when my maple tree will feature a lush red canopy and my bottle-brushes explode with colour.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
I’ve co-written and recorded a bunch of songs that I hope will see the light of day one day.
Music is very close to my heart and piano was my first love.
When I ultimately walk away from my corporate life, I’ll be quite happy to resume life as a modest piano teacher and, hopefully, help foster that same love of music to the next generation.
