10 facts about Richard Di Natale

1) Hes a doctor
Richard worked as a GP all over the country, from Geelong to Tennant Creek where he worked in an
Aboriginal health service. Richards work in public health also took him to India where he worked to
combat the spread of HIV.

2) He speaks fluent Italian

Richards family is part of the wonderful Australian experiment called multiculturalism, and their
story is not an uncommon one. His father came from Siracusa in Sicily at age 29 and learned English
while doing his apprenticeship to become a sparky. His mum and her parents came here from San
Marco, a small village in Southern Italy and opened up a grocery store in Brunswick.

3) He lives on a farm
Richard lives with his wife and two boys on a farm in the foothills of the Otway Ranges. The farm is
home to cows, chickens and pigs and Richard makes his own homemade vino and olive oil.

4) Hes a sports tragic

A long suffering Richmond supporter, Richard was himself a ruck rover in the VFA for six years. A
knee injury put an end to his footy days, but hes still loves to play golf or cricket when he gets a
chance.

5) He knows a lot about dogs

As a child Richard tried to convince his parents to buy him a puppy by studying up on dogs as proof
of his commitment. His plan failed but Richard continues to claim that identifying dog breeds is his
superpower.

6) His favourite movies are

The Godfather and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. He also loved watching the Muppets
movie with his kids.

7) He went to Ebola-affected West Africa

Richard travelled to Sierra Leone and Liberia during the peak of the Ebola crisis. As a Senator with a
background in public health, Richard felt he had an opportunity to shine a light on the situation,
meet with key people on the ground who were leading the global response, and to allay fears about
people from the area.

8) He has a passion for photography

Richard has a passion for photography and at one stage of life he briefly considered pursuing it
professionally. He even has a diploma in freelance photography.

9) He loves to surf
One of the reasons Richard loves living in the Otways is the proximity to the Surf Coast. Hes a keen
surfer, but hes no Kelly Slater.

10) He makes a mean pizza

True to his Italian roots, Richard loves to make pizza in his outdoor wood fired oven.