Mathew Hatcher: Coffee Roaster and Local Hero
- The Beagle
- Apr 30, 2021
- 2 min read
April 29th 2021 saw Visa launch this image of Mathew Hatcher across the nation in their ongoing support campaign of #WhereYouShopMatters
While Mathew's face might be new to the rest of the country he is widely known and highly respected and regarded by the thousands he has met in the shire over the last eighteen months.
Following the impact of the bushfires hundreds of families were left with little but the clothes on their backs. Their needs were immediate. Food, water, clothing, toiletry needs and all the incidentals that we take for granted in our day to day.
With little in the way of response leadership forthcoming and Emergency agencies still weeks away from arriving to help with the greater need Mathew and an incredible team of volunteers established South Coast Donations Logistics Team, a local volunteer group that sprung into action to support people and businesses affected by the NSW South Coast bushfires.
Remarkably they were able to marry the tidal wave of donated goods flooding into the shire with people in immediate need while focusing on the bigger goal of helping to rebuild our community.
Mathew and his team worked tirelessly and provided much of the critical initial support needed refusing to wait until more formal avenues woke from their slumber to realise the fact that the shire had no food, no fuel, 500 houses gone and our emergency service crews needed water, and lots of it.
It is little wonder then that Mathew and his team were nominated and recognised as a 2020 Eurobodalla Hero Recipient.
But Mathew has many hats and each one is worn with a passion and determination.
He is President of the Batemans Bay Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and in his first term has already turned the Bay upside down with his drive to showcase the township and revitalise the foreshore. The Bay now has a dedicated Visit Batemans Bay website that was launched on the day Eurobodalla Council closed the Batemans Bay Visitor Centre.
Many across the shire also know Mathew for his coffee. He created the vibrant coffee van fleet of The Fix whilst also being a co-founder of Guerrilla Roasters in 2018 with Lewis McKenzie roasting fully traceable coffee purchased from suppliers who work with farmers on sustainability and quality. Narooma residents know Mathew as the owner of Corals at the Marina
So Mathew wears many hats including being on the Board of Directors at South Coast Colleges and his love of the region is worn on his sleeve.
A worthy face indeed for Visa to choose as a representative of our region.