Meaghan Kempson
Coach, Trainer or Manager of the year, Australia Day Awards

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in Parkes for two years and love the sporting community.

What is your favourite thing about your working life? My colleagues make every day so enjoyable, not a day goes by without a laugh!

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Adelaide

What makes you laugh the most? People tripping over (without injuring themselves)

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Go to the Australian Open, watch some live tennis and have some drinks with friends/family.

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why? To 2015, my first year of university. Made so many friends and created some great memories!

If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce? School hours from 7am to 1pm!

Do you believe in random acts of kindness and which is your favourite one? Yeah definitely! I love the idea of visiting aged care facilities and socialising with the elderly.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I’ve lived here for 23 years and I really like the easy-going country atmosphere. It is so very much home.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I’m retired and spend my time caring for my home and family and, at the moment, preparing to celebrate our Diamond Wedding Anniversary (60 years).

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Writing, gardening and walking with my dogs.

What makes you proud? My family. Seeing them achieve and watching them help to make the world a better place. Watching my family extend into several great-grandchildren

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? A horse. I love the sense of exhilaration and freedom that comes from watching a horse stretch out and run and I would love to experience that.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? The Music Box Dancer is my favourite piece of music because it causes me to want to dance. My favourite book is ‘This was a Man’ by Jeffrey Archer.

Tell us about your best holiday. My husband and I spent a month travelling up the Red Centre via the Indian Pacific and the Ghan to Darwin and the Top End. The spoiling that we received on both trains was unforgettable, the side trips, the scenery, the mishaps and adventures made it totally memorable and a journey we will never forget.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? Born and raised in Parkes. The most pleasing aspect of the town is the friendly and caring nature of its people.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am retired and enjoying the fruits of life. I play golf for relaxation and I love taking Scrubba’s money. Prior to retiring I worked in the motor trade at Col Fletcher Ford & KIA as a salesperson.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Play golf when I have time but I also do the books for the RSL Sub Branch, I’m the current President of the Lachlan Valley District Golf Association, as well as President of the Western Districts Council of the RSL and Secretary/ Treasurer of the Parkes Branch of the RSL.

What makes you proud? The greatest thrill I get is watching kids achieve their goals, especially my two granddaughters who are both excelling at hockey in Queensland.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? An eagle just catching some of those thermals and keeping an eye on everything down below. What a wonderful life that would be.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Any movie that is based on a true story. I believe they are great viewing as long as the end result is what is wanted.

Tell us about your best holiday. Some of the Car Bashes I’ve been on raising money for the less fortunate. I also realised what a wonderful place South Vietnam is especially as I’ve seen it as a war-torn country and now as a civilised nation. On the Car Bashes it’s all about friendships and places that I never thought existed and the wonderful countryside that we have here in Australia.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in Parkes for 44 years, after discharge from the army. It is a friendly town to be a part of and most of my immediate family are here. It is also a good location to travel from.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work with my brother as Knights Building Contractors. We have been contracting in the Parkes Shire for 42 years. I enjoy seeing people’s building dreams come true.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I enjoy tantalizing and spending time with the grandkids.

What makes you proud? My two children’s achievements, five grandchildren and being Australian.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? Not sure but maybe an eagle, can cover distance quickly and have a bird’s eye view.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? No real favourites, I enjoy movies with John Wayne or Sandra Bullock. Sweet Caroline or most of Neil Diamond songs.

Tell us about your best holiday. Our last trip to Europe in 2014, including touring the Western Front and watching two stages of the Tour de France.

What is on your bucket list? Retirement of a degree, seeing more of this country and spending more time with family.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I’ve lived here for 15 years. I truly love the big open skies and fresh air, also there’s nothing like the warmth and belonging I feel as part of this beautiful Parkes community.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I’m the coordinator of Project Sprouts, under the umbrella of Neighbourhood Central. I am thrilled to be part of a new community led model, connecting children and families with the services they need. I enjoy working with a passionate group of fierce women who care deeply about the children in our community.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I really love an early morning Bodycombat or Xfit class – favourite way to start the day. I also adore time with Jo Laurie in her journal sessions. This year we’ve made smashbooks. Writing in my smashbook, and making something beautiful in that has been a highlight of 2020.

What makes you proud? I’m so proud to be Caitlin, Sophie and Emily’s mum. I’m proud of the way they have responded to so much uncertainty and change this year with their usual mix of delight and love. I’m proud of myself for taking a leap into the unknown, and being brave to try something new.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I remember the first time I snorkelled above a stingray and feeling in awe of what appeared to me as a stingray in flight, while also being in the water – what a wonderful combination.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Right now, “I’m Good?” by the Hilltop Hoods. It’s the first song on our 2020 mornings playlist. It makes me laugh, and is a playful start to the day, it also reminds me that even in difficult times we’re not alone.

What is on your bucket list? A family trip to Paris!

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.

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.

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.