How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like about it? All my life, 45 years. I like the community – it never ceases to amaze me, how when the chips are down, a small town community will always step up.
Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work with my husband on our family farm. I get to work side by side with my best friend every day.
What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I like to spend any spare time crafting, making things with resin and practising photography.
What makes you proud? My family and their achievements.
If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? An elephant. They are strong and great leaders, they keep in small groups and are extremely loyal to those around them.
What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? I don’t get a lot of time to read or watch tv.
Tell us about your best holiday. Holidays are few and far between being farmers. I think our last holiday was over five years ago. We did the theme parks in Queensland.
What is on your bucket list? To see more of Australia one day.
Marty Sammut-Paul (Regional Business Supplies): THINK LOCAL FIRST! Thinking local first and buying local supports Parkes businesses who can then invest in the community by employing local people and giving to community and sporting events through donations and sponsorship.
Chad Hamood (Griffins Leading Edge): Have confidence in your local stores to have stock! When you shop locally you see exactly what you get and you get it the same day! Under the current circumstances you are not guaranteed to get what you buy online, and delivery takes much longer.
Elissa Gillingham (Parkes Décor Shoppe): Support the local businesses who support your sporting teams. People are always asking for donations, but prefer shopping online.
Tracy Adams with Sophie (almost 5): Oh yes, we recycle all the time and everything we possibly can, including collecting bottles and cans to take to Return and Earn. We’ve got my mum into recycling as well, and she is excited about getting 10c for bottles. I am also trying to re-use items like refilling the fabric softener bottle, and repurpose items to make a fairy garden or other projects.
Tiffany Tonkin: Yes, we recycle at home, and ensure to put everything we can into the yellow bin. We also repurpose old clothes by either taking it to Vinnies, or using it for rags or other purposes around the house. I also make sure to buy ceramic pots for my plants that I can re-use, and I keep all the plastic pots to use them again. I have to admit we are hopeless at using the green bin at the moment and I would really like us to start recycling our food scraps.
Dr Stan Grant (snr): It is hard to explain, it means so much. To see our people recognised like this today, makes me so proud. This is my country (I grew up in Dubbo), and the recognition of our long history, culture and our people… it is really big.
Stacy Mader: It is about the acknowledgement of the traditional people of this area, as well as their knowledge of astronomy and to incorporate it into science in Australia.
Ralph Naden OAM: It makes me feel very proud and I hope that everyone will call The Dish by its new name of Murriyang, just like everyone adopted Uluru as the new name for Ayers Rock.
