Moonee Valley Voices

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices , host Matthew Galea sits down with local business owner Anthony Cerchiara , founder of Golden Goose Finance. Anthony shares his journey from working at a Big Four bank to launching his own finance business in his early 30s. We dive into: What it takes to back yourself and start a business from scratch. How word-of-mouth and client referrals fuelled Golden G...

Stephen Simone from the Silent Sight Foundation returns to Moonee Valley Voices as our very first repeat guest. This time, Stephen shares the story behind Street Classica , a huge event coming to Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds on 21 September . With the street shut down and filled with prestige cars, family activities, special guests and entertainment, the day is about much more than cars — it’s abou...

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices , we sit down with lifelong Moonee Valley local and Marketing & Brand Strategist Rosie Lo Grasso from ideapro .  Rosie shares her journey from running her own fashion label and navigating corporate marketing, to co-founding ideapro with her husband Anthony – a business built on the belief that branding goes far deeper than just a logo. We talk about: Ros...

Steve Alessio’s name is well known to Essendon fans — a premiership player, ruckman, and one of the characters of the Bombers’ golden era. But his story doesn’t stop at the final siren. In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices , Steve joins host Matthew Galea to reflect on his journey from growing up locally and breaking into the AFL, to being part of the legendary 2000 premiership team. He shares...

In this National Volunteer Week special of Moonee Valley Voices , host Matthew Galea brings together two of SES Essendon’s longest-serving volunteers - Justin Navas , Volunteer Unit Commander, and John Bates , Unit Controller - to celebrate 50 years of VICSES and explore the heartbeat of community resilience. Episode Highlights: Origins & Roles: Justin and John share how they found their calli...

In this engaging episode of Moonee Valley Voices, Matthew Galea chats with Natalie Piscopo, founder and director of StellaFortis Consulting (formerly VCJ Recruitment) and Disability Network Coordinator at CoCo Support Services. Natalie shares her inspiring personal and professional journey, discusses the critical importance of quality recruitment in allied health and disability sectors, and offers...

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices, host Matthew Galea sits down with Samantha Byrne, a proud local who has been elected onto the local council three times. Together, we discussed growing up in Moonee Valley, her eventual interest in local government and how council elections have changed across COVID and beyond. We explore the complexities of the Victorian Government’s Activity Centres Progr...

How do you build a thriving business network in Moonee Valley? In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices , we sit down with Jordan Leask, a highly experienced commercial leader, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Business Essendon—a network dedicated to helping local business owners connect, collaborate, and grow. Jordan shares his journey from corporate sales and partnerships in sports and entertainme...

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices, we sit down with Luisa Muscara, founder of Women in Moonee Valley (WMV)—a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting, sharing, and connecting women in the local community. Luisa shares her deep connection to Moonee Valley, what inspired her to start WMV during the pandemic, and how the organisation has grown into a robust network for local women an...

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices , we're joined by Aneta Pazeski , a Moonee Valley business leader, entrepreneur, and financial educator. Aneta is the founder of Bridesmaids Dressing Room and the powerhouse behind "Money Mastery for Women" —a masterclass designed to help women take control of their finances, break free from stress, and build lasting wealth. We chat about: ✔️...

Meet Lucas Ivkovic, Moonee Valley’s own social media sensation, boasting over 6 million followers across TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat. From his days playing junior football on the soccer fields of Moonee Valley, his high school and involvement in local theatre to creating viral comedy sketches that resonate worldwide, Lucas’s journey is a testament to creativity and hard work. In this episode, we...

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices, we sit down with Stephen Simone, a local hero and a friend of our host, Matthew Galea. Stephen shares the incredible story behind the Silent Sight Foundation, his advocacy for a cure for Usher Syndrome, and the deeply personal journey as a father to two boys battling this genetic disease. Discover how Stephen is driving groundbreaking research, raising awar...

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices , we chat with Sam Agostino, the heart and soul behind Mamma Lina’s café on Mount Alexander Road. Sam shares his journey from corporate life to creating a beloved local dining institution, steeped in family traditions and authentic Italian flavours. Discover how Mamma Lina’s became a cornerstone of the community, hosting fundraisers, marking life milestones,...

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices , we chat with Stef Carniato, the inspiring founder of Gratofy , a gifting platform that's making waves in 2024. Stef shares her journey from growing up near Moonee Valley to launching a business that solves one of the biggest challenges in gift-giving: finding the perfect gift. Discover how Stef’s experience living in New York City shaped her entrepren...

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices , we sit down with Stacey Harley, a dedicated member of the grassroots community group, Liveable Moonee Valley. Stacey shares insights into the group’s mission to foster transparency and community engagement around the Victorian Government's Activity Centres Program, a development initiative impacting Niddrie and North Essendon. We delve into the group’...

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices , I had the pleasure of sitting down with John Cachia, founder and CEO of Thriving Wealth. As a financial advisor, entrepreneur, and advocate for financial literacy, John’s approach to wealth management goes beyond the numbers. He’s passionate about helping people live fulfilled lives by aligning their financial goals with their personal values. During our c...

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices , we sit down with Corinne Barlow , the creative force behind Love Gwen Jewellery . Corinne’s journey from a local apprentice jeweller to building her own brand is both inspiring and heartwarming. After experiencing a traumatic robbery and later overcoming cancer, Corinne found healing and purpose through her jewellery designs, creating pieces that are deepl...

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices, we sit down with local soccer mum and soon-to-be-published author Amy Schembri to discuss her upcoming book, Making It or Not. Drawing from her personal experience as a parent of young athletes and a lifelong connection to football, Amy’s book dives deep into the challenges young players face – from team selection disappointments to the pressure to succeed....

In this special episode of Moonee Valley Voices , host Matt Galea sits down with none other than his father, Martin Galea, a seasoned conveyancer with over 40 years of experience. As the Director of Tick Box Conveyancing, Martin has built a reputation for delivering exceptional service in Moonee Valley’s property market, working closely with real estate agents, financial planners, and other local...

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices: Celebrating MV's Finest, we sit down with Mark Errichiello, the Director and Co-founder of Master Advocates, and a second-generation real estate agent with over 23 years of experience. Mark has worked in various roles within the real estate industry, including Real Estate Auctioneer, Sales Consultant, Senior Property Manager, and Franchise Director. Be...

Welcome to the first episode of Moonee Valley Voices: Celebrating MV’s Finest! We’re stoked to have Hamish Jones as our first guest on the show. Hamish is a local business owner and community builder extraordinaire. With over 20 years of experience in digital transformation, AI, and automation, he’s helped businesses and individuals become more productive and connected to their communities. In thi...

In this short audio clip, we introduce the Moonee Valley Voices concept. Welcome to Moonee Valley Voices, the show where we not only celebrate the stories of Moonee Valley’s top business owners and community leaders but also provide a new platform for our community to be heard as the presence of local media continues to diminish. In each episode, we chat with local business owners and community le...