Travel & Other Interests

My partner and I like to travel. Heading overseas, hiking, cruising, long road trips, you name it. I've only visited 7 countries outside Australia but we have plans for many more adventures.

Other things I have done during time off from work:

• I ran as a candidate for the Australian Federal Senate in 2016.
• I used to volunteer at the local RSL club. I started off cleaning the club and working the bar, that led to being hired as club manager. I ran the Spotswood & Kingsvile RSL for a year not including my time as a volunteer.
• While at the RSL I reconditioned their old espresso machine that had been in a shed gathering dust for many years. In order to learn how to make it sing I got myself a casual job as a barista in a busy café on Flinders Street. I also got pointers from the late Sisto Malaspina during a few late night visits to Pellegrini’s. I can still make a mean coffee, but my latté art is a bit rubbish now.
• I was headhunted from the RSL to become a beer expert at Hudsons Road Wine & Beer. While I was there I trained as a WSET Level 2 Sommelier. I also learned a lot about cheese and charcuterie.
• Started off a career as a professional DJ. I cobbled together a collection of PA and lighting equipment intending to pick up some mobile DJ gigs, you know birthday parties, weddings, etc. Instead I spent a few years as a club DJ playing venues like The Powell Hotel Footscray, "Co." at Crown Melbourne, and Deluxe Bar in Moonee Ponds.