Orange with Purpose: SES Essendon’s Volunteer Spirit

Business In Early 30s: Brand, Word-Of-Mouth & Community with Golden Goose's Anthony Cerchiara

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 Goose’s growth. * The creative approach Anthony takes to branding and marketing in the finance industry. * Big changes in the market for first home buyers and business owners dealing with tax debt. * His ties to the Essendon Royals, where he still plays socially, and his connection to the Silent Sight Foundation. Anthony’s story highlights the courage, creativity, and community spirit that drives entrepreneurship in Moonee Valley. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Connect with Golden Goose Finance: Website: https://www.goldengoosefinance.com.au [https://www.goldengoosefinance.com.au] Email: anthony@goldengoosefinance.com.au

Stephen Simone on Street Classica & Raising Awareness for Usher Syndrome

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 about raising awareness and funds for Usher Syndrome. In this episode, we cover: * The inspiration behind Street Classica and what to expect on the day * How the event is helping raise awareness of Usher Syndrome * The community and business support that’s made it possible * How locals can get involved — from volunteering to raffle tickets 👉 Learn more about Silent Sight Foundation: https://www.silentsight.org/ [https://www.silentsight.org/] 👉 Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/2558470847843162 [https://www.facebook.com/events/2558470847843162] 👉 Buy raffle tickets: https://www.raffletix.com.au/streetclassica2025 [https://www.raffletix.com.au/streetclassica2025] Moonee Valley Voices is proudly produced by Content Hype [https://contenthype.com.au/] in Moonee Ponds, shining a light on the people and stories of our community.

Branding Beyond the Logo with Rosie Lo Grasso of ideapro

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices, we sit down with lifelong Moonee Valley local and Marketing & Brand Strategist Rosie Lo Grasso from ideapro [https://www.ideapro.com.au/].  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: * Rosie’s path through retail, fashion, and corporate marketing before joining Anthony in ideapro * The lessons she learned from her first business (including a hard truth about deposits) * Why branding is more than colours and logos – and how consistency, customer understanding, and clarity set great businesses apart * How ideapro helps local businesses in Moonee Valley and beyond to uncover their unique identity and connect with their ideal customers * Rosie’s love for the Moonee Valley community, from school runs and local sport to favourite spots like Mister Hoffman, Perry’s, Little Sister, Tookaiya, and Classe 90 Rosie also shines a light on some local businesses she’s proud to have supported, including Thriving Wealth [https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__thrivingwealth.com.au_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=BgKerelPyFbMm-FYixdpvar9mWDLb41g2L09Th1liyk&m=kOUwPpZDqPW47otK_7c6CmhYrOjDQr9sQ2la8xhovSbIViLZ1MuJMDA1lPoH6ZIY&s=q2hg8a8V-qzaxELEbWAJC5ARM6VuH-Ndk5DNGmJ721U&e=] and Bridesmaids Dressing Room [https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__bridesmaidsdressingroom.com.au_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=BgKerelPyFbMm-FYixdpvar9mWDLb41g2L09Th1liyk&m=kOUwPpZDqPW47otK_7c6CmhYrOjDQr9sQ2la8xhovSbIViLZ1MuJMDA1lPoH6ZIY&s=nMIuvu3Q7_9doyFVK5CFfja90bkNyPjhcfDkjVo-5fg&e=], (check out our episodes with John and Aneta) showing how strong branding and implementation can transform a business. This episode is packed with practical branding insights and local flavour – perfect for business owners who want to build a brand that truly resonates.

From Premiership Glory to Business Essendon: Steve Alessio’s Journey On and Off the Field

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 what it was like to play through the game’s shift to full professionalism, the leadership lessons he carried from the field into his career, and how those experiences shaped his approach to building relationships in business. That focus on connection is at the heart of Business Essendon [https://businessessendon.com.au/], the networking group Steve co-founded with Jordan Leask. We discuss why it’s become such a powerful space for local business owners, how it blends genuine connection with practical opportunities, and the parallels Steve sees between great teams and great networks. Whether you’re a footy fan, a local business owner, or simply someone who values strong community connections, you’ll enjoy this relaxed and insightful chat.

Orange with Purpose: SES Essendon’s Volunteer Spirit

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 calling in SES and the unique leadership responsibilities they hold. * Evolution Over 50 Years: Discover how VICSES has grown from grassroots beginnings in 1975 to a modern emergency-response force. * Behind the Call-Outs: Vivid anecdotes of major flood and storm responses, including joint efforts with Fire Rescue Victoria, Ambulance Victoria and even local AFL players. * Volunteer Culture: Insights into recruitment, training pipelines and the camaraderie that keeps 41 volunteers ready 24/7. * Wear Orange Wednesday: What it means to “turn the town orange,” host community events and amplify gratitude with #ThankYouSES. * Get Involved: Step-by-step advice on signing up, hosting a WOW Day morning tea or pitching in with fundraising and equipment drives. * Valley Faves: A light-hearted rapid-fire round uncovering the best cafés, parks and hidden gems in Moonee Valley. Whether you’re considering signing up as a volunteer or simply want to learn how SES protects our streets and waterways, this episode is packed with actionable tips, inspiring stories and a genuine celebration of community spirit. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or watch on YouTube.