Thirroul co-op has a new manager
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...
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 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.”
Dean’s side hustle is as frontman for local band The Dark Clouds. Look them up.
Visit flametree.coop
