MATT WHILEY

Kylie Kwong celebrates the individuals helping to grow a stronger community. This month, we meet Re owner and sustainability advocate Matt Whiley.

- GEORGIE MEREDITH (MAIN) & KYLIE KWONG

I am so fortunate to have Re as Lucky Kwong’s neighbour at South Eveleigh, where I am inspired by Matt Whiley’s groundbreaking and positive approach to the way we think about drinking. I also love Matt’s collaborative philosophy, which gets right to the heart of hospitality. Great leaders and visionaries take everyone along with them and there is great generosity in Matt’s innovative practice.

Bartending is a team sport, according to Matt Whiley. Lucky for him, that’s something he’s well practised in.

The owner of Re, Sydney’s sleek, waste concious bar in South Eveleigh, grew up in the UK. He was pursuing his childhood dream of playing cricket professionally, when he injured himself and was forced to retire at age 24. Shortly after the incident, which saw him tear numerous tendons in his shoulder, Whiley was sitting in a bar in Nottingham when a staff member failed to turn up for their shift.

“The manager asked if I fancied helping out, and I was hooked after one night,” says Whiley. “It was the people, the interaction and the social aspect of it all that I loved. It was like having the same camaraderie as you have from being in a team – you’re all pulling in the same direction for one common goal.”