By Belinda Nolan
With more than half a century living and working in Sunshine, it’s fair to say he’s the suburb’s unofficial historian.
Mr Kontek’s real estate company has been a fixture on Hampshire Rd for more than 45 years.
The real estate agent has lived in Sunshine for 57 years.
As a long-time resident, Mr Kontek has been an eye-witness to many changes and watched his suburb grow and its population skyrocket.
“When I first came here there was nothing,” Mr Kontek said.
“I was selling blocks of land for about 50 pounds, with a five pound deposit.
“It seems unbelievable today but that’s the way things were back then.”
Mr Kontek is one of 29 people who have been chosen to share their stories of Sunshine as part of a new DVD which was created to preserve the oral history of the suburb.
The DVD will be screened at Village Cinemas during the Brimbank Festival as part of Sunshine’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
Mr Kontek told Star he had been surprised to be approached for the film.
“I do know a lot about Sunshine because I’ve been here for so long.
“They even used to call me Mr Sunshine but I never expected to be asked to do this.
“But apparently I’m a very important man,” he joked.
Mr Kontek said he wasn’t expecting to suffer from any nerves when seeing his face on the big screen.
The Celebrating Sunshine 150 film will be screened on the hour during the Brimbank Festival.
But participants got a sneak peek during a launch screening at Victoria University last week.
