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Parkes Phoenix

Our Bloke – Mark Ritchie

November 13, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? Karen and I have lived in Parkes now for 35 years. Our four children grew up here. I enjoy the Parkes community spirit and visiting local towns.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? While mostly retired I do a bit of part-time electrical trade teaching at Parkes and Dubbo TAFEs. I also very much enjoy and am proud to be a member of the Rotary Club of Parkes.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Playing tennis and learning Aussie Bush poetry.

What makes you proud? My wife, four children and four grandchildren. Karen and I are fortunate we have two grandchildren in Forbes.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? Probably an elephant because I would have a better memory than I have now.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Favourite movie is ‘El Cid’, a Charlton Heston movie; song, James Taylor’s ‘Fire and Rain’, and book is ‘The Cattle King’ by Ion L. Idriess, the life of Sir Sidney Kidman.

Tell us about your best holiday. Our first family overseas trip to New Zealand. Also memorable was trekking 200km from Lulka airport (the world’s most dangerous airport) to Base Camp Everest and back in 2011 with a brother, sister and niece.

What is on your bucket list? Learn the Italian language.

Our Gal – Kerrie Peden

November 6, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I was born in Parkes, grew up here but left to continue my studies. We returned when we were expecting our first child as we wanted our children to grow up in the country and have lived here ever since. I like the easy lifestyle, friendly people and the big skies.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am a recently retired teacher. I loved the buzz attached to working with children and every day was different but am now enjoying some of the things I didn’t have time for while I was working.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I like to write, tat and garden.

What makes you proud? Definitely my family.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? An eagle with the freedom to soar.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Les Miserables, it’s a powerful story about humanity.

Tell us about your best holiday. Six months travelling in a transit van with my husband around Europe and the UK. It was back in the days when there were still passport controls with their own stamps and every country had their own currency.

What is on your bucket list? Renting a villa in Tuscany and having all my family and friends come to stay, walking the highlands of Scotland and seeing the Northern Lights.

Our Bloke – Michael Hutchison

October 30, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? Having lived in Parkes for the past 10 years I like the relaxed lifestyle and the friendly, caring and generous interactions with the community. A good illustration is the service I recently received at the RMS.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I do whatever I choose… I’m retired. Tutoring, dragon boating, gardening and keeping connected to family and friends ensure that I happily fill my time.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? At the moment I’m restoring a little French car – Renault R4 with the help of my good friend Rex Veal and youngster Ben Jansen while listening to Chad Morgan on the radio!!

What makes you proud? Seeing my children impart my values to their children (my grandchildren) makes me proud.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I’d like to be a cat to take benefit of my friend’s “cat whispering” expertise.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Uncle Buck (1989) is my favourite movie. As a teacher for 45 years I get a good laugh from the school with the wort faced assistant principal.

Tell us about your best holiday. Back packing through China with my daughter, son and friends was an uplifting experience.

What is on your bucket list? Spending some time again in Southern India with my sister. India really heightens all of the senses.

Our Gal – Rhian Frame

October 23, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? For nine months. It’s great to be close to the family.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am retired and helping with my grandchildren. I enjoy playing golf and being outdoors.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Go for long walks, playing golf and swimming.

What makes you proud? My family, including my daughter in law.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? Dolphin, because I could roam the open seas.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Lord of the Rings – must be the books, so that I can imagine the scenes myself.

Tell us about your best holiday. My best holiday was in Borneo. We stayed at an orangutan sanctuary where orphaned orangutan were rehabilitated back to the wild.

What is on your bucket list? Going on a hot air balloon ride with my daughter in law!

Our Bloke – David Bicket

October 16, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes? Basically all of my life so far.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? Self-employed public accountant. I also own a farm with my brother. Helping my clients through the complex environment that we are facing does derive a deal of satisfaction. All days provide a great deal of variety.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Travel, very much enjoy walking, driving and flying.

What makes you proud? My family. They are fun to spend time with.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? A falcon. Majestic, they display speed and effortlessness in the way that they fly.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Jason Bourne movies, the storylines are interesting and the action is unrelenting. Music: Nightwish, Evanescence and Rammstein. I have seen Evanescence and would love to see Nightwish and Rammstein in concert.

Tell us about your best holiday. Went with my family for three weeks to Canada for a driving holiday through British Columbia and Alberta. The scenery and wildlife were very impressive, many bears.

What is on your bucket list? To travel more, although it may be a while before going overseas is possible.

Our Gal – Margaret Robinson

October 9, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived here for a long time – all my life!

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? Parkes Forbes Community Housing where I am CEO, I own Parkes Décor Shoppe and also run Rosegarden, which is 5 star executive accommodation.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Travel and explore, and go to Queensland and play golf.

What makes you proud? See my housing tenants get a property and sustain a tenancy, and helping others.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Pretty Woman and Ghost, which was funny. I love Whoopi Goldberg in this movie.

Tell us about your best holiday. Lots of fun holidays, but a standout would be South America – hiking Macchu Pichu.

What is on your bucket list? Just to relax and be happy.

Our Bloke – Duncan Clement

October 2, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? On and off since 1969. I moved back about seven years ago. I like the friendly people and fairly laid-back atmosphere.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I’m a mechanic at Parkes Toyota. I get enjoyment out of the variety of work and working with good people.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Watching videos and reading books on science fiction.

What makes you proud? Parkes Shire Concert Band achieving awards.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? An eagle, because I reckon they’re king of the skies.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It is humorous and touches on many idiosyncrasies of the human race.

Tell us about your best holiday. Family holiday to central Australia.

What is on your bucket list? To go to Scotland to catch up with family there.

Our Gal – Ana Mill

September 25, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? We moved here in 2007 from Sydney when my husband started work at Northparkes mines. I like it here because it’s peaceful like the islands and people are nice.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work at Redbend Catholic College in the kitchen, cooking and feeding the students and boarders.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I like doing my volunteer baking for the farmers and frontline workers fighting the COVID pandemic.

What makes you proud? My son and daughter make me proud because they are doing well and have careers and are nice children.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I would like to be a bird and fly because we can’t fly anywhere with COVID-19.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Movie: Sound of Music. I like the story and the music; Song: Unforgettable by Nat King Cole, it reminds me of growing up in Tonga, my parents used to play it a lot; Book: Any Patricia Cornwell book.

Tell us about your best holiday. Mauritius, because the hotels are beautiful and it reminds me of Fiji but it is prettier.

What is on your bucket list? Go to England and see Buckingham Palace and meet the Queen! Europe to see my penpal in Sweden whom I’ve been writing to since she came to Tonga when she was 15.

Our Bloke – Tim Keith

September 18, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in Parkes all my life, except for six years at Yanco Agricultural High School. I enjoy the community spirit and great friendships made in the town.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? After leaving school I worked the family farm with my father, at which time I gained my wool classing certificate. I leased my farm some years ago. I now class around the district and help my brother Ken when he needs a hand. What I like most is working with a great team where we all get along and enjoy each other’s company.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I have always enjoyed running, having completed 25 City2Surfs. I also enjoy being involved with the community through groups such as Action Club, PA & H Association, Coradgery Picnic Races, Australia Day committee, Ma- sonic Lodge. Of course, being Town Crier for the last 24 years has been lots of fun and I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of great people.

What makes you proud? My two daughters. Both girls have grown into fine young ladies with great husbands, giving me four grandchildren and we all enjoy spending time together whenever we can.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? A hard one, but I think an eagle. Very few predators and being able to soar over the countryside would be fantastic.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Movie: The Sting, with Paul Newman and Robert Redford; Song: anything from the Beatles or Cat Stevens; Book: any Alistair MacLean or Dan Brown book.

Tell us about your best holiday. A three-week Contiki trip through Europe in 1981 with Heather, my first wife. We were part of a small group, had a great tour guide, and with six nationalities, we all got on really well, with lots of sight-seeing.

Our Gal – Lea Orr

September 11, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Lea Orr

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? 1981 saw me settle in Parkes. Up until then, as part of a banking family, and with transfers in teaching, I had lived in eleven towns (and 14 houses)! My hubby, Bruce, is a third-generation farmer at Gunningbland. Next year, we’ll celebrate our 40th anniversary, and that’s what I love about the place – our huge, close, caring, forever friendship base!

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I’m a retired teacher, love retirement – I recommend it!

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I enjoy reading, playing lawn bowls, fishing, gardening and walking. I love my Friday coffee gals, they are a Godsend, especially during this COVID year.

What makes you proud? Naturally, I’m extremely proud of three capable, independent, likeable young adults out there who began life as our children on the farm! I’m also very patriotic and proud to be an Aussie.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? Wouldn’t it be cool to be a bird, with the freedom of flight (but only in fine weather!)

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? I sing along to 70s music in the car – you can understand the words and remember them after almost 50 years! Love to read a good mystery novel, anything by Nora Roberts! Ah, a cuppa and a good book, sitting in the sun!

Tell us about your best holiday. Visiting Egypt, including a Nile cruise, was pretty special. Within Australia, going heli-fishing on the Gulf and catching my first barramundi last year was amazing!

What is on your bucket list? Main plan is to achieve a smooth transition to living in town next year! See more of Australia, enjoy some caravanning. Enjoy time with our two grand kiddies when the family is able to return from the craziness of NYC during COVID. Maybe visit France and pay our respects to my great uncle and others resting there.

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