Why do you like to do your Christmas shopping in Parkes?

Sarah McMaugh: I like to shop locally as much as I can, Christmas time and all year round, because it keeps the town rolling.

Tim Baker: I don’t do Christmas shopping, but it’s easy and close for my wife when I send her shopping. Gai likes to support the people who support me in my business.

Suzie McNamara: I like to support the local shops. I like to see the money stay in Parkes and help improve the economy of my town.

Do you have a special Christmas decoration that goes up every year?

Tina Nash: I have little decorations that my kids, now 19, 24 and 26, made for me when they were in pre-school. They are perfect and they are beautiful and they always go at the front of the tree.

Lew Laing: We have an advent calendar Christmas tree, with handmade felt emblems, which we bought in Bangladesh when we lived there for a couple of years in the early 1980s. It still goes up every year.

Jenny Jewell: I have a collection of table decorations including trees and angels which belonged to my mother, Grandma Dot Green. They adorned our Christmas table every year and they still do. Wherever we meet for Christmas these decorations come along.

Do you prefer your onions over or under the sausage?

Steve Chester: The traditional way is to put it on top, and that is the way it should be. If you drop any on the floor it is a waste of good onions!

Tim Watts: I am not concerned either way. It does not really bother me.

Lew Laing: I have never thought about a preference. Having been involved in occupational health and safety for many years, it could be a genuine problem in a shop and something should be done about it.

Would you consider taking on a new sport and why?

Tylah Mapperson: I think dragon boating would be really fun because you’d get to hang out with your mates in a boat, which is something not many people get to do with their friends. And you’d get to make friends with others in the team.

Ella Ross: I would like to try a new sport to meet new friends and challenge myself, also to learn new skills and set some goals and have some fun.

Daniel Mai: It depends what the sport is. I don’t like contact sports, but I’d like to try something like archery or lacrosse. A new sport would be good for meeting new people, getting exercise, improving hand eye coordination and learning new skills.

Why do you think Remembrance Day is still relevant today?

Deidre Bennett: On a National basis it’s how we identify our character. Personally, my grandfather was in the Light Horse Brigade and landed in Gallipoli. Lots of cultures celebrate war victories whereas we commemorate the end of the war and those we lost.

Kevin O’Neill: We remember the ones who fought for our country and came home – and we remember the ones who fought and didn’t come back.

Kristy Berry: Remembrance Day is very relevant for our younger generation. It’s important for them to understand the meaning of the commemoration as part of our history.

What is your recipe for success in the HSC?

Kristen Grady: Having a timetable that works for you and sticking with it, and getting as much help from teachers and others that you need.

Rachael Nash: 2x syllabus for each subject; 2x calculators (in case one dies); at least 6x highlighters; enough pens to last a lifetime (I’ve gone through about 20 in two months) …and you have a perfect recipe to complete the HSC, as long as you actually study.

Felicity Horwood: Firstly it is important to make sure you know your subject, and secondly you have to sleep well, eat healthy and exercise. It is very important to make sure you sleep.

What do you love about our local businesses?

Rebecca Miller: That I get to be part of such a dynamic community of business owners who support each other and stand together. I love the loyalty of my team and our visiting guests. At La Bella we are obsessed with customer experience.

Matt Medlyn: I love the support that the local businesses and community get.

Kate Thomas: Local businesses keep the money in the community, they keep our community going and provide jobs.

What do you think is missing from the Trundle ABBA Festival?

Sharon McMahon and Sandra Stevensen: There should be more of a welcoming party to cheer on the passengers when the ABBA train arrives in Trundle, and a band to dance them into the streets.

Bill Burke: The original ABBA group should attend the festival to come and watch and cheer everyone on!

Hollie McKenna: I think more stalls and markets in the main street would make it much more festive.

Jeff Taylor – Never been a fan. Time gets away and then tea-time is too late. Before you know it it’s 10pm. Also we all know it fades the curtains and upsets the cows when they move the sun around…

 

Nancye Blatch – It doesn’t worry me too much. I grumble a bit at the end about getting up in the dark but then I love the extra daylight to play golf or garden.

 

Rowena Smith – I like that there’s enough daylight to go for a walk with my dog after work as predaylight saving I don’t finish work until after dark.

Diana Monkerud: I like to socialise with my family and friends, and also enjoy doing patchwork making
quilts for my family.
Ruth Taylor: I enjoy doing cross stitch and do some most days. My favourite piece I’ve done is a lady in blue.

Jenny McDonald: I read a lot. I read anything, but particularly enjoy historical novels.

Sandy Perceval: I love cooking, especially baked dinners like lamb. It is also good to listen to nice, quiet music.