Meet the co-op’s new manager

By Susan Luscombe

Thirroul institution the Flame Tree Community Food Co-operative has a new manager, Illawarra resident Dean Mastroianni, who comes with a passion for food and sustainability.

Dean, who grew up in Balgownie, has had many strings to his bow. He was born into hospitality –his parents owned an Italian restaurant, now called Il Nidos, for 10 years. He worked in the family business until the age of 25, learning how to interact with customers and gathering business knowledge. But he flew the coop, studied nursing and worked as a live-in spinal nurse for several years.

His passion for food won through, though, and Dean decided to merge his two loves, food and medicine. He studied for a diploma in nutrition and a certificate in Ayurvedic food as medicine. This led him to a career in health food retail where he enjoyed engaging with people about health and nutrition.

With a growing family and his beautiful wife a shift worker, Dean left the world of the long commute and the nine-to-five and settled into family life at their home at Stanwell Tops as a “house spouse”.

Fast-forward four years. With his family growing and the cost of living increasing, Dean began to look for work outside the home. Luckily, the stars aligned and Flame Tree was hiring.

Dean followed the sustainability path before it was even fashionable. He drives a Prius, has a garden and 10 chickens.

“The values of Flame Tree align with my own,” he says. “I want to be part of a community that tugs

The man from Baradine

By Paul Blanksby of Helensburgh Men’s Shed

Rod is no ordinary bloke. If you can’t fix it with Sikaflex, or get it moving again with Aerogard, well, it’s pretty far gone. From building houses, droving a mob outback, bore sinking in the desert (capiwirra! – good water!) and racing a Mini Cooper at the speedway, this at people’s green heartstrings and know that we are making a difference in our part of the world. And knowing that the money spent in our shop stays in the local community is important.

“I get to work with food and people all day and pass on the healing effects of healthy eating. But most important is the shared values of my team, the volunteers, our members and customers, all with a capacity to work together to make a difference.” bloke’s been there, done that. And what’s even better, in the past he taught his skills, and now he shares them at the Burgh Men’s Shed.

Dean’s side hustle is as frontman for local band The Dark Clouds. Look them up.

But it’s not just the big-ticket items he IXLs at (and he loves his jam sangers too). Here’s a piccie of Rod with a lovely little jewellery box, one of three he made, along with his good mate Bruce, for a valued client.

I’m keen to see what he’s got in mind for his beautiful new granddaughter!

Your Men’s Shed. Starting up in the new year, Monday, 9th January.

Visit helensburghmensshed.org.au or 199A Parkes Street Helensburgh, 9am-3pm

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Michael Croft 0413 401 522, Ron Balderston 0410 564 752, Paul Blanksby 0403 701 788