Alejandra Sanchez, 25, chats to Yasemin Talat about growing up in Brimbank, her love of baking and what she enjoys about church.
How long have you been living in Brimbank?
My whole life. I lived in the same house with my mum and sisters until I got married last year.
What is your favourite thing about living here?
It’s a central point for our lifestyle – close enough to the city but not too far to be country.
What do you do in your spare time?
I like to explore my creative side through baking by trying new recipes and have recently rekindled my love for drawing at life-drawing classes.
Where’s your favourite place to eat in Brimbank?
Anywhere in Alfrieda Street that sells pho or combination egg noodles. I love Asian food.
Where’s your favourite place to shop in Brimbank?
My grocery shopping preference would definitely be at Brimbank Central. You’ve got Aldi, Safeway or Coles, fruit and veg stores, as well as Asian stores.
What’s your fondest memory of growing up here?
Growing up, my fondest memories are of me and neighbours playing in the streets after school in a time before iPhones.
You spend a lot of your time at Enjoy Church in Sunshine. How long have you been involved with the church?
We found our way to Enjoy at the start of 2012.
What is your role there? And what does your role involve?
As well as attending the services on Sundays, I contribute to the Enjoy Church’s creative technical department, which has about 180 members, on a volunteer basis as a stage management department leader. The role involves working closely with other departments, especially the front-of-house director. We manage stage microphones and props and are on hand for each service to assist with any emergencies or issues that may hinder the smooth flow of the service. Each service will typically have two stage managers.
What made you want to get involved?
I believe everyone has something to bring to the table. One of my strengths is organisation. And Enjoy Church is very supportive in channelling your strengths to get involved, which led me into the stage management department.
Why is it important to be part of Enjoy?
I’ve been attending church since my late teens and when I came across Enjoy, it really felt like home to me. Through Enjoy, family became closer, my marriage was blessed and I developed relationships with people who are now my closest friends.
