WERRIBEE Football Club chief executive Mark Penaluna is passionate about more than footy .
What drew you to the area?
I grew up in Port Melbourne, but once real estate prices skyrocketed in the area and the ‘‘trendies’’ started moving in, I knew it was time to get out. I had friends moving to Hoppers Crossing and the idea of affordable housing with people I knew nearby was pretty appealing. The people in the area were very welcoming, a lot like the Port Melbourne I knew growing up.
Where’s your favourite secret spot?
The Werribee River behind where I work has some great walking paths, though I don’t get to spend much time down there. It’s always good fun to hit a few golf balls down at Werribee Park as well.
What’s your favourite place to grab a bite to eat or a coffee?
For a coffee there is no better place than Chatterbox Cafe on Watton Street. Sal [the proprietor] makes the best coffee in town, hands down. For dinner I usually go to the DiCaprio Family Restaurant on Derrimut Road. It’s just around the corner from our house and they always have good pizza and pasta. And Elie and his team have always been good supporters of the club.
Where do you go to buy your threads?
To my wife. I often come home to find she’s bought this or that for me to wear. When I do buy clothes, I’ll usually go to Hizz Menswear at Werribee Plaza.
What wouldn’t you change?
Werribee zoo is absolutely fantastic, it’s somewhere everyone should visit. I don’t really get to go there as often as I should, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. The same goes for the Werribee Park Golf Club.
Funniest thing that happened when out and about?
I remember once seeing one of the members, a certain local doctor . . . he was standing on the boundary when somehow he got his legs tangled with one of the players. Next thing everyone saw was his trousers falling down.
