Maddy Spence  – Ron Harrison Sports Bursary recipient

Where were you born? In Parkes.

Were you named after anyone? Not that I know of.

Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of? Making the NSW/ ACT U16’s team and the Sydney Thunder Women’s Indigenous cricket team.

What historical moment stands out most in your memory? Making the NSW state team in year 5 and 6, being captain of the women’s Northparkes team for the Pink Stumps Day, making the Western champs team every year I’ve been in high school.

What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Patience over numbers – Ron Woods.

What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken? I’m not too sure.

What are the three things you would take to a deserted island? Cricket gear, food and a floaty.

If you had to spend $10,000 today, how would you spend it? Build an indoor sports centre for Parkes.

When are you happiest? When I’m playing cricket around my family and friends.

Trevor Chatman
Referee, Umpire or Official of the Year

Where were you born? In Parkes.

Were you named after anyone? No.

Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of? Winning a couple of grand finals with Reedy Creek Cricket Club.

What historical moment stands out most in your memory? Watching the Sydney Swans win their first AFL Grand final in 2005.

What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received? Keep the ball on the ground – that’s fine for cricket but not so good for golf!

What is the greatest risk you have ever taken? Letting my daughter drive the header.

What are the 3 things you would take to a deserted island? My wife – so I didn’t get lost, my recliner – so I had somewhere to sleep, and my golf sticks.

If you had to spend $10,000 today, how would you spend it? I’d buy a couple of ton of Super to put the crop in.

When are you happiest? When I am playing or watching sport… so my wife says.

Where were you born? I am a Parkes local – I attended Parkes East Public School and Parkes High School.

Were you named after anyone? No, my dad picked my name – my daughter and I share Maree as our middle names.

Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of? I am proud of what my family and I have achieved through the squash centre. Personally, completing my uni degree via distance and of course my three kids make me extremely proud.

What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Don’t worry about it until it happens.

What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken? Leaving a job after 10 years to run a squash centre!

What are the three things you would take to a deserted island? Tent, fishing rod and good book. I think I could quite enjoy myself!

If you had to spend $10,000 today, how would you spend it? Our family dream is to watch a professional squash match in Egypt. Squash is their national sport and the courts are made completely of glass right in front of the pyramids – so a holiday to Egypt would be on the cards.

When are you happiest? We travel a lot for squash, and as much as we love it, it is nice when we have a weekend at home with nowhere to be. It makes me happy to let the kids experience things I loved as a kid growing up in Parkes – fishing and yabbying are favourites at the moment.

Where were you born? Wellington NSW, just down the road.

Were you named after anyone? We had a pet dog named Mick, my parents swear that I’m not named after him.

Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of? I’ve bought a block of land here in Parkes where I’m hoping to build a home. It’s a long process but they say it’s all worth it.

What historical moment stands out most in your memory? It would have to be the Sydney Olympics for me. I was only quite young but it was definitely something that started my passion for all things sport.

What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Don’t stress about the things you have no control over.

What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken? I ate some seafood that was a bit touch-and-go when travelling around Florida in a motorhome. The gamble did not pay off.

What are the three things you would take to a deserted island? Fishing rod, golf sticks and couple of cartons of beer. In my head this is a holiday and not a fight for survival.

If you had to spend $10,000 today, how would you spend it? Easily. If I had any doubts about it, I’m sure a few drinks down at the pub with mates would knock what’s left over. In reality, if I didn’t put it towards the house my Mum would give me a good clip around the ears.

When are you happiest? Anytime I’m with family and friends

Parkes Sportsperson of the Year Gabrielle Clyburn (Weightlifting)

Where were you born? Forbes

Were you named after anyone? Not my first name, but my middle names are Elizabeth Patricia, named after my mother and grandmother.

Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of? Definitely winning gold at 2021 Australian Women’s Open National Weightlifting Championships is my proudest this far, however I hope to add some more memorable accomplishments in the next couple of years.

What historical moment stands out most in your memory? When it comes to sport, Cathy Freeman winning gold at the 2000 Olympics. It was an incredible moment and inspired a nation.

What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? You either win or you learn.

What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken? Hmm, I’m not much of a risk taker, however moving to Perth for 12 months with only one visit might be considered risky to some.

What are the three things you would take to a deserted island? A barbell, some plates and chocolate.

If you had to spend $10,000 today, how would you spend it? A trip to Bali would be nice!

When are you happiest? In the gym lifting weights or a BBQ with friends and family.

Where were you born? I was born and raised in Parkes.

Were you named after anyone? No, my parents liked the name Mark but spelt Marc.

Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of? My family and of course my photography achievements – my work being picked in the top 101 portraits in the world for 2021.

What historical moment stands out most in your memory? The COVID pandemic and I would say 9/11.

What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? You have one chance at life, make the most of it and enjoy it.

What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken? Taking 12 months off to travel the globe and working in a foreign country.

What are the three things you would take to a deserted island? My camera, plenty of water and a hat.

If you had to spend $10,000 today, how would you spend it? I would buy camera gear. You can never have enough camera gear.

When are you happiest? When I’m with my family, and of course behind the camera!

Where were you born? In the capital city of Peru, Lima.

Were you named after anyone? My parents used to work at a school, so they named me after an English teacher.

Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of? Becoming the mother of two special girls, Hannah and Vanessa.

What historical moment stands out most in your memory? In 2014 I witnessed the signature ceremony for Parkes to become a “ Refugee Welcome Zone” after our Parkes Shire Council didn’t hesitate to accept a recommendation from Mayor Ken Keith: “These wonderful people are bringing with them a broad range of skills and talents needed by our communities,”

What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? It was given to me by my Dad: “Listen and learn.”

What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken? Leaving my birth country and consequently, leaving my family and friends.

What are the three things you would take to a deserted island? A device to play music, a tutorial book of how to survive on a deserted island (while I listen to music), some firecrackers to make some noise and be rescued in case the tutorial book doesn’t work or if the music is bad.

If you had to spend $10,000 today, how would you spend it? Booking flight tickets to visit my parents and bringing them here for a visit.

When are you happiest? When I’m surrounded by happy and smiling people.

Where were you born? I was born in Brisbane. My parents lived in Tumbarumba but mum had to go to a large hospital for the birth so she went and stayed with an uncle in Brisbane.

Were you named after anyone? My middle name is Campbell. It the family name on my mother’s side.

Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of? My four daughters, proud of each of them. Playing rugby for 43 years. Photographing 800 birds in Australia. Writing a book.

What historical moment stands out most in your memory? As an historian many stand out, but as a kid I remember the 1967 referendum and the landing on the moon.

What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? “Don’t touch that!”

What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken? Too hard to choose one: Photographing birds in the mangroves at Cape Leveque, Western Australia – there were big crocodiles in there! Being in a small boat in a cyclone and micro-chipping lions in South Africa come pretty close. It was also scary being charged by elephants, but the scariest of all was being driven on mountain roads in the Himalayas in Nepal. That was a time I really thought I was about to die.

If you had to spend $10,000 today, how would you spend it? A new camera.

When are you happiest? Travelling around Australia photographing wildlife.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I moved back to Parkes about three and a half years ago. I like being close to my ageing mum. I also like the usual dry climate of Parkes, and quiet of country life.

What is your favourite thing about your working life? Feeling useful and meeting community members.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? A quiet corner in the countryside, surrounded by nature.

What makes you laugh the most? I love a good joke, clever memes, people who can laugh at themselves, and films that make me laugh even after having seen them half a dozen times, such as Back to the Future and the Bud Spencer and Terence Hill spaghetti westerns.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Magically learn to play piano in a day.

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why? I would willingly peek into the early 20th century, to experience what it was like growing up then.

If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce?

The protection of human basic freedoms for all.

Do you believe in random acts of kindness, and which is your favourite one? Kindness always moves the heart, doesn’t it? Courtesy is kindness. Kindness received has the ability to open the heart and make one want to share that kindness with others.

What is one thing you will never do again? Never stop trying.