Shiralee Unger
How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I moved to Parkes 31 years ago and attended school at Middleton Primary. I’ve lived at Alectown for 20 years. I love the rural lifestyle and the rural people.
Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I help my husband John run our property, and I work for Craig Smith at The Dish Cafe and at Country Roads Motel at Peak Hill. I enjoy learning new cooking skills with Craig and I like the satisfaction of my motel job. I also love earning a wage because I don’t make any cash on the property.
What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Riding my horses and competing in competitions around the state.
What makes you proud? My achievements with my horses. I’ve just returned from winning my class in the Reining Cow Horse competition at Wattamondara.
If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I would be a horse because they are such majestic animals.
What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? My all-time favourite movie is The Man from Snowy River. No need to ask why – it’s obvious.
Tell us about your best holiday? Phoenix in Arizona where I rode horses on a ranch owned by Lee and Mark Smith, where I saw what an amazing affinity they have with their horses. The other highlight of this holiday was riding mules in Medina, Texas.
What is on your bucket list? To learn to have the gift with horses that I’ve experienced with Lee in Phoenix and to help others find the same connection.