West End People

Natasha’s stunning looks will ring memory bells for many West End shoppers. Born in the former USSR, she now revels in West End’s lifestyle, and enjoys leisurely river walks not far from her home.

“I was born in the small town named Karabash, which is surrounded by the Ural Mountains and bush. My friends and I often went out and about to collect mushrooms and wild strawberries and many times we saw wild deer, slowly walking around, aware of us but not scared. I spent my teenage and youth in the city, Naberezhnye Chelny, located on the river Kama. Nine years ago I came to Australia and fell in love with this country. I love its tropical beauty, its climate, its people and diversity. I believe Australia is the country where dreams can and do come true.
For the last three years I’ve lived in West End (Hill End). I like its central location and yet it’s very suburban. I like the Brisbane River and often go two streets down to the park on the river bank.
I have two cats, named Cindy and Semeon, who are very energetic and naughty but I still love them. This is Cindy, Simeon was too shy to be a star.”

Now where have you seen her before?

Family comedian and fruitologist extraordinaire, Tony’s always ready to greet regulars of Charlie & Lizi’s Family Fruit Market with a cheerful G’day and a cheeky smile. He’s totally at home among a plethora of edible goodies, and so he should be, as a babe he was raised under the counter so that his busy mum and dad could keep an eye on him. “That was when West End was much more of an interesting ethnic community,” says Tony, “and back then mum and dad had a couple of house offered to them for $20,000. Nobody would buy them because West End wasn’t the in-place to live - now check it out. We do need more free parking around Boundary Street. It’s too difficult for people to shop easily. Other than that, it’s great place to be.”

Fruit ‘n’ veges, fish, espresso coffee, bread, and heaps more goodies are traditionally sold at this Saturday morning community market, along with some great entertainment, people watching and wonderful photo opportunities.

Often seen on Boundary Street self-confessed poet and philosopher Adrian is keen to foster and promote the great community spirit of West End.  He’s currently the treasurer of the West End Community Association and is concerned that developers are forging ahead in the area without a real understanding of what they might be changing.  “It’s a place of real diversity” he says, “with a great level of interaction between community members.  It’s a place where you know your local baker or green grocer as well as your neighbours and you can stumble home from a big night out.”