Rose Jones

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I have lived in Parkes for 49 years and love living here being close to most of my family as well. I also enjoy the friendly and community spirit.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I volunteer at Henry Parkes Museum, and love the research, restoration and preservation of history and meeting people from all over the world.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? My favourite things are craft and creating items from sewing quilts to crocheting clothes.

What makes you proud? I am very proud of my family and friends and love to share their personal achievements.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I would like to be a kangaroo, because I love Australia and the freedom and wilderness we have in this country.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? My favourite books are history and ancestry and local history.

Tell us about your best holiday. My best holiday was a tour of England with two siblings and a nephew staying in the villages my ancestors lived in before they immigrated to Australia, and going on a Taste of Britain Bus Tour.

What is on your bucket list? I want to go on a cruise and historical tour.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I moved to Parkes for the position of Drought Response Officer in February, so only seven months. I like the rural lifestyle, sense of community and the people have been very welcoming.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? As Drought Response Officer I coordinate an effective drought response for the shire and collate and disseminate relevant information regarding drought support. I really enjoy the diverse nature of the role and developing this newly appointed position.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Some farmers have taken me to the local camp drafts and I have become hooked on horse riding. I have a small recording studio to record music for myself and some people in the Shire, especially the youth.

What makes you proud? When I see a community coming together to help each other out and knowing that I have had a small part to play in it.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I would like to be a Pelican! To be able to fly would be great. They spend time in both the country and the ocean, the best of both worlds.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Man From Snowy River – it captures a great part of Australia’s history and culture. There should be more movies about our history.

Tell us about your best holiday. Living on a boat for a few weeks surfing around the islands off the West Java Coast, Indonesia. Big waves, crystal clear water and standing up in barrels that you can fit a car into. Biggest barrels of my life. Such an incredible feeling to be able to surf waves like that with good mates.

What is on your bucket list? 1)Ride in a camp draft competition; 2) Ride a Brumby through the Snowy Mountains; 3)Buy a farm; 4) Raise a family; 5) Buy some land on an island in the Pacific – preferably around Fiji.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I moved to Parkes in 1989.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I’m retired so I just swan around.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I have several favourites. I read, of course! Watch old western and musical movies, research war and Jewish history and do cryptic crosswords.

What makes you proud? Hearing from ex-students about the way they are nurturing their children, especially in brain development, from birth.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? A bear, so I could hibernate in winter.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Movies: Sound of Music and Friendly Persuasion. Song: How Great Thou Art (especially when Barb Newton sings it!) Books: The Source, Winnie-The-Pooh, The Bible, All Quiet On The Western Front. These are my choices because they all reflect my passions.

Tell us about your best holiday. On a group tour, lead by my brother, to Turkey in 1999 when we started an impromptu street dance with some uni students at Canakkale, attended the Dawn Service at Gallipoli when it was held at the original spot, on the beachfront and then, the service at Lone Pine Cemetery.

What is on your bucket list? River cruise from Budapest to Bucharest.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I was born and bred in Parkes and spent my early years on a farm 30 km outside of town. I have spent some time in Sydney, Canberra and Cairns, and moved back about seven years ago. I like the easy-going speed of life here.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work as a Financial Controller at Neighbourhood Central. I enjoy working with good people and contributing positively to the community I live in. The work we do makes a significant difference in the lives of others.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Getting out in nature and spending time with family. I haven’t hunted or fished much for a long time, and would like to do more of that. I also enjoy making my wife laugh – with three kids under nine, it can be a challenge sometimes.

What makes you proud? Watching my children grow and develop and participate in the world around them. I also like seeing people stand for something.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I would be an eagle – they do life almost unnoticed and one needs to look closely to appreciate their nature and beauty.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? The Bible is my favourite book – it is unlike any other book, and the author has saved my life and changed me in ways that truly amaze me. My favourite movie would probably be No Country for Old Men.

Tell us about your best holiday. This year I had my first holiday in twelve years. We spent 10 days in Newcastle swimming at the beach, fishing, shopping, relaxing and having a good time.

How old are you? 12 How long have you lived in or around Parkes, and what do you like about living here? I have lived in Parkes my whole life. I like how kind and nice people are here.

Where do you go to school and what year are you in? I go to Parkes Public School, I am in Year 6.

What is your favourite after school activity? I love netball.

What is your favourite food and movie? Favourite food is chocolate and favourite movie is Harry Potter.

What music do you listen to? I listen to pop music.

What do you want to do when you grow up? I want to become a famous netball player.

If you could have a super power what would it be? Probably making money to give to the poor and charities.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself. Well my brother and sister and I are really good at cross country.

Riley McMaster

How old are you? 12

How long have you lived in or around Parkes, and what do you like about living here? I have lived here for 12 years and I like Parkes.

Where do you go to school and what year are you in? I go to Middleton Public School. I have been here since Kindergarten and I am in Year 6.

What is your favourite after school activity? My favourite activity is sport, especially soccer.

What is your favourite food and movie?
My favourite food is lasagne and my best movie is ‘Jurassic Park’.

What music do you listen to? I like listening to country music.

What do you want to do when you grow up? When I grow up I want to work for my mum and dad in their business.

If you could have a super power what would it be? My superpower would be extra strength.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
I am captain of our school this year.

Elsie Orr

How old are you? 11

How long have you lived in or around Parkes, and what do you like about living here? I have lived here for 8 or 9 years. Before that I lived in Cowra. I like that I live near my family.

Where do you go to school and what year are you in? I go to Middleton Public School. I have been here since Kindergarten and I am in Year 6. I am the girl school captain this year.

What is your favourite after school activity?
My favourite activity is soccer training and hockey training.

What is your favourite food and movie?
My favourite food is carrots and my best movies are ‘The Mighty Ducks’ and ‘The Greatest Showman’

What music do you listen to? I don’t listen to music very much but I like to listen to Mr Harris when he sings at school.

What do you want to do when you grow up? When I grow up I want to be a teacher.

If you could have a super power what would it be? My superpower would be to have wishing powers so I could wish for anything I want.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
I am quiet but I am actually louder than people think.

How old are you? 12

How long have you lived in or around Parkes, and what do you like about living here? I moved here when I was around 3 months old and have lived here since. I enjoy Parkes because it has great mountain biking tracks and you can have some great friends.

Where do you go to school and what year are you in? I go to Parkes Public School and I am in Year 6.

What is your favourite after school activity? Either building lego or playing soccer.

What is your favourite food and movie? Favourite food is nachos and favourite movie is Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

What music do you listen to? I quite enjoy music from two artists called ‘Imagine Dragons’ and ‘For King and Country’, but I also enjoy electronic music.

What do you want to do when you grow up? I would like to be an engineer.

If you could have a super power what would it be? I would love to have telekinetic powers.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself. I like camping and also multiple day hikes.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? To appreciate Parkes one has to live here. I have lived here for 25 years. We have a great Council, good friendly people who care about you. Good schools, sporting facilities and the list goes on – I’m proud to be a ‘Parkesite’.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am retired and like the idea of doing things when I like, how I like and if I like. I think I am becoming selfish.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Nothing much – snooze, read the paper, make flowers for cake decorating in front of the TV and sometimes watch my granddaughters cycle. Go to church on Sundays.

What makes you proud? Decorating cakes and sugar art.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? An echidna – echidnas are independent and selfsufficient. When afraid or in trouble they can roll up into a spiky ball and not be noticed.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Lord of the Rings – really impressed by background effects, drama and action, acting and particularly the cinematography.

Tell us about your best holiday. Seine and Rhone River cruise in France. Visited Somme Battlefields of WWI and the D- Day landings on the beaches of Normandy.

What is on your bucket list? Attend the ANZAC memorial service at Villers-Bretonneux France.