Our Committee
Footscray Traders Association is run by a committee comprising Footscray locals
Long Tran
Committee Member
Long Tran and his family own D&K Live Seafood and Grocery. It’s Christmas Day. Disaster! Someone has forgotten to bring the prawns for lunch. Who you gonna call? Not only does D&K Live Seafood in Footscray have the largest range of live seafood available in Australia – they are the only shop in Melbourne that’s open for fresh seafood every day of the year. Yes, that includes Christmas Day. “My parents Mai Lieu and Liem started D&K Live Seafood in the 1990s and they are still at the shop every day. I reckon it’s the working mentality of arriving in Australia as Vietnamese refugees,” smiles Long, Mai Lieu and Liem’s son. “We have not closed a day in twenty-three years. That means we’ve worked more than 8000 days in a row!” D&K Live Seafood is one of many family businesses that the entrepreneurial Tran family have owned in Footscray over the past thirty years. “D&K is named after my two older brothers, David and Ken,” explains Long. “My grandfather owned one of the biggest Asian grocers in Footscray. The Leeds Street building was built by my Uncle and the corner site was an Asian grocery shop run by my Auntie, while next door was the original seafood shop. We also ran Long Vien Roast Duck and Crispy Skin Pork, another business named after myself and Vinny, my younger brother.” Now the Tran family have combined the corner site and adjoining shopfront into a new D&K Live Seafood experience. The Asian grocery store has moved a block away on Byron Street, restyling as a Japanese/Korean inspired ‘konbini’ convenience store. If you’re wondering what the difference is between live seafood and fresh seafood on ice, Long says it’s all in the texture. “The iced stuff, it’s okay and it serves a purpose. But sometimes, if the seafood hasn’t been prepared right before it’s frozen, it’s granular. The protein breaks down very quickly. Live mud crab is completely different when it’s been sitting on ice for four days before you cook it.” Being an old family business hasn’t left D&K Live Seafood stuck in its ways. The recent renovation has meant expanding the holding space for their bestselling mud crabs and lobsters, being able to offer more unique products like live marron, abalone and periwinkles and installing eye-catching features like the fizzing live oyster tanks. The four Tran brothers also have big plans for the future, with freshly sliced sashimi and cocktail fueled events in the pipeline. They’re currently working on introducing an outdoor sit-in space where customers can sip champagne and eat oysters to their heart’s content. “It’ll have an Asian twist!” Long says eagerly. “We’ve been wanting to do champagne and oysters for about ten years but never had the space. It’ll be exciting when it kicks off!”
Joyce Watts
Committee Member
Joyce Watts' passion (and mission in life) is to help your family have more fun together! She runs TOT: HOT OR NOT, Melbourne's biggest family travel blog with ideas and inspiration to help you explore the best of Melbourne, Regional Victoria and the world. There are over 1000+ of my personal reviews and tips about things to do and places to go with kids and family travel-related products and services.
tothotornot.com
Anthony Wong
Committee Member
Anthony Wong operates Huxtaburger Footscray.
Julia Ponte
Committee Member
Julia previously operated The Studio Footscray, an event space. She also operates her own business called The Jazz Lane.
Leanne Falloon
Committee Member
Leanne Falloon is the owner of the Exercise Room in Buckley Street Footscray, a 24/7 gym which opened in 2013.
Leanne's career history is predominantly sales and marketing based in the Luxury Hotels and Liquor industries. Roles include On-Premise State Sales Manager - Beringer Blass Wine Estates, National Account Manager - Fosters Group, Events Sales Manager Hilton Hotels, Sponsorship Manager - Hilton Hotels, State Sales Manager and National Account Manager - McWilliams Wines. Professional affiliations have incuded: Judge - Young Australian of the Year awards. Board Member - Ardoch Youth Foundation Numerous positions in Chamber of Commerce groups Awards Judge - Australian Customer Service Association Committee Member - Australian Sponsorship Marketing Association.
Sally Walshe
Committee Member
Sally studied printmaking and painting and completed a Diploma of Visual Art in 2011. She has worked extensively with linocut as her main medium of choice. She has exhibited extensively, both in solo and group exhibitions and has won several awards for her printmaking.
As an artist, Sally works with a variety of mediums including oil, acrylic, pencil, pen, ink, oil pastel, crayon and of course linocut. She is inspired by life and her inner west neighbourhood. “During the pandemic, I made a Street Art Gallery window in the front of my fence to entertain people on their walks. I regularly rotate my artwork and it currently still has a framed ‘Westie Bulldog’ in it,” says Sally.
Explore more of Sally’s fabulous linocut collection, highlights include ‘Australian Natives’, ‘Ngargee Tree’ and ‘Black Cockatoo’ at: @sallywalsheartist
Fabio Cammarano
Treasurer
Fabio is a partner of Collins & Co and heads up the Valuation & Forensic Accounting division of the practice and is the firm’s specialist tax advisor.
He has been associated with the Footscray Traders Association for a number of years.
Melaku Dominique
Committee Member
Melaku is proprietor of Addis Cafe & Roastery and a Footscray trader of more than fifteen years.
Originally from Ethiopia, Mel first came to Australia on a scholarship to study agriculture. After finishing his studies he worked for several companies before deciding to open his own business with his wife. Coffee, an integral element of Ethiopian culture, is a passion of Mel’s and Addis Cafe & Roastery not only serves its own in-house blend, but also supplies beans to surrounding businesses.
Stuart Lucca-Pope
Committee Member
Stuart Lucca-Pope is the owner operator of Littlefoot Bar, established in early 2015 at 223 Barkly Street Footscray, with his partner Liana.
Previously they owned and operated Bebida Bar & Café in Smith St, Fitzroy from 2003 to 2013 while living first in Melbourne's inner south then inner west. Stuart's first career was in environmental education working at both the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne Aquarium. He has a solid commitment to minimising the environmental footprint of any business he operates. Another personal focus is fostering a strong connection with the community that he lives and works in.