"If you open yourself to opportunity, the more opportunities you will see.鈥�
Since leaving Yarra, Mathew鈥檚 career has taken a series of intriguing and unplanned twists and turns.
He has picked fruit, worked in hospitality, spent three years in manufacturing, learned how to weld, flipped properties and dipped his toe in the world of 3D animation and video production.
When his partner was offered career opportunities that were too good to turn down, Mathew became a stay-at-home dad and moved to London and then Dallas.
鈥淚鈥檝e walked a crazy life path. I had friends with tunnel vision who ended up with great jobs but I don鈥檛 think you should be scared about not knowing what you want to do when you leave school. Just follow your feet because where they take you can be amazing,鈥� he says.
Mathew joined Yarra in Prep and remembers wearing grey shorts and pants and the bright cherry red blazer. He also remembers the rush to buy one of the limited numbers of hot dogs available at the canteen on Friday lunchtimes.
A talented swimmer, he was part of the school swim team from Years 5 to 9 and also played soccer. Inside the classroom, Mathew鈥檚 favourite subject was anything art-related.
鈥淪tick a tool or piece of wood in my hand and I was all over it. Designing, drawing, working with timber, steel or plastics, or graphic design 鈥� I loved all those. I never got to my Year 12 Muck Up Day because I was too busy finishing my Fine Arts portfolio.鈥�
Mathew graduated around the time of the recession and employment opportunities tightened. So, he began the journey that has led him to where he is today.
He has developed a dry-mix recycled man-made stone product that uses 70 per cent recycled materials. Rigorous testing has showed it is extremely strong and after production being put on hold due to the pandemic, Mathew is about to go into business.
鈥淚nitially the focus is on the garden industry, so it can be used for tiles, pots and sleepers but it can also be adapted to make kitchen benchtops, walls and house slabs.鈥�
Mathew is also co-founder of a not-for-profit that aims to change people鈥檚 perspectives on plastic and encourage more recycling. One of his first initiatives is to set up collection points for the 7 billion plastic lids thrown away each year in Australia.
鈥淚n setting up these two businesses, I鈥檝e pulled in all the skills I鈥檝e learned along the way. Things can fall into place once you just allow your life to take its path.鈥�
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