I Grew Up Here - Matisse Walkden-Brown

I grew up there. She proudly introduces herself: “I am from Fiji and Australia. Home is Fiji Beachouse on Fiji’s Coral Coast, and now Thirroul on Australia’s Coal Coast.
Matisse Walkden-Brown

Australian-born communications specialist, Matisse Walkden-Brown, calls Fiji her home.

With two children, a guitar, and a job she loves, Australian-born communications specialist, Matisse Walkden-Brown could not ask for more.

For the most part, what you see is what you get with the lanky and stunning Ms Walkden-Brown, who calls Fiji home. But beneath her self-confessed talkative nature, lies a few facts she openly shares.

For instance, not many know that Ms Walkden-Brown scares very easily. And not many people know that despite being in communications, she still has to Google-search the correct spelling of ‘necessary’ every time she tries to write it.

Australian-born communications specialist, Matisse Walkden-Brown, calls Fiji her home. (L) Fiji Beachouse along the Queens Highway in Nadroga is a coastal getaway that features a hive of activities

“Not many people know that I cannot surf, despite actively attempting to give off the air of a very chilled beachy surfer girl,” she said.

Her father owns and runs Fiji Beachouse (www.fijibeachouse.com) on the Coral Coast.

“It is a little resort that my parents started in the early 90s,” Ms Walkden-Brown said.

“I grew up there. She proudly introduces herself: “I am from Fiji and Australia. Home is Fiji Beachouse on Fiji’s Coral Coast, and now Thirroul on Australia’s Coal Coast.”

What Are Some Places In Fiji You Would Take Friends To?

Every time friends from overseas come to Fiji, I find it so difficult to whittle down a list of where to take them.

There are so many beautiful options, and I’m always bursting with pride, wanting to show them every nook and cranny of our stunning country.

However due to paths well-worn, and that saying about apples not falling far from trees, I end up taking them to Korolevu for the ocean, naps, and stories over scones; Suva for the ever-vibrant pulse of past, present and possible, all-dancing together under the city stars, and Nananu-i-ra, so we can climb the west hill and watch the sunset.

What Is Your Favourite Spot For A Coffee Or Pie?

Again, so many wonderful options. I’m a bit old school and the Republic of Cappuccino (ROC) still represents ‘cool’ to me.

When I was younger watching people have meetings over coffee at the ROC, I would think, ‘oooh when I’m grown, I want to be the kind of person who has meetings over coffee at the ROC’.

Needless to say, when I was working in Suva, I organised a lot of meetings over coffee at the ROC.

I have diversified my choice of favourite cafes over the years of course, but there is still something special about swinging open that glass door.