How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I came to Parkes in 1984 to take up the position of principal of the TAFE college. One of the best things about Parkes is that we have a highly effective council that is not split into factions or run along party lines.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? Since TAFE days I’ve worked in health and safety, in both training and consulting roles. I retired in July this year, but still do some work when interesting projects come along.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? I am a member of Parkes Rotary and that accounts for most of my spare time. I enjoy doing things around home and having people around for dinner. I also collect fishing equipment. Now I’ve retired I may get to use it a bit more?

What are you really good at? I don’t consider myself really good at anything, but have a go at all sorts of things. At the moment I’m working with some Indigenous folk in Parkes organising an exhibition of Wiradjuri cloaks and headdresses.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? It would be a great thing to undo some of the harm done to our Indigenous folk, and to others that are right now being damaged by war and displacement.

What is your pet hate? I get pretty fired up when information is put out about the environment, especially climate, that is not based on what I judge to be good science. I’d love to climb on board a research vessel to the Antarctic with some influencers that don’t agree that climate change is a thing. It would be fascinating and informative to observe those interactions.

Tell us about your best holiday. I don’t know that I have a “best” holiday to talk about, but I do know that when kids grow up family holidays loom large in their memories.

Ashley Goulthorpe

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I have lived in Parkes for the majority of my life. I love the friendly community and how people support each other.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work at the Pink Orchid Florist and Cafe as a florist. I enjoy working in such a colourful and supportive workplace full of fun people.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? In my spare time I enjoy reading, art and hosting dungeons and dragons campaigns.

What are you really good at? I’ve been told I’m really good at chatting!

If you could have a superpower what would it be? I think freezing time would be incredibly helpful, especially at work during our busy times of the year like Valentines Day!

What is your pet hate? My pet hate is when people are unnecessarily rude or when I’m so busy that my chai latte at work goes cold.

Tell us about your best holiday. My best holiday is yet to come, I’m going on a cruise to the Pacific Islands in January 2019! I’m very excited!

Rodney Ford

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I have lived in Parkes for 36 years. Love Parkes – we have everything we need here. No need to go anywhere else.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am Branch Manager of Coates Hire. I enjoy being able to help customers with equipment for small and large projects.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Riding motorcycles. Spending time with my three kids (all grown now) and new granddaughter Grace.

What are you really good at? Restoring vintage small engines, mainly old Victas.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? Feed all the misplaced and starving people in the world.

What is your pet hate? People who cannot sit on correct speed limit on highways causing other drivers to take too many risks trying to overtake.

Tell us about your best holiday. Tasmania on my bike. I try to go there every year if I can.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? Eight years. I have enjoyed living the country lifestyle and being a part of the Parkes business community.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? The Railway Hotel. I enjoy the social media and marketing side of the business. Also meeting lots of new people.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? We are usually working on the weekends but in our spare time we like to take our little boy Hart to the park with friends.

What are you really good at? My job.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? Teleportation.

What is your pet hate? When I or someone else sneezes!

Tell us about your best holiday. Bianca and I went to America in 2013 with three friends for two weeks. We got married in Central Park NYC while we were there!

Conrad Mill 

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
We came to Parkes in 2008 it was the height of the drought and everything seemed very brown and dead. I was recruited by Rio Tinto to set up an experimental media unit at Northparkes Mines.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it?
I have a small business called Reel Smoke, and also work in a Sydney consultancy in marketing, comms and advertising. I enjoy transferring people’s old super, VHS or whatever format films onto a digital platform so they don’t lose those memories.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends?
I like gardening, and have the vegies in. I also like to grow flowers, the Gladies are sprouting. My wife adores flowers.

What are you really good at?
Hard question – I adore cameras and images, but I also love writing and am busy with my first novel. It’s great when you can write for yourself, even if no one likes it – lol!

If you could have a superpower what would it be?
Just make the world a fairer and better place so everyone can contribute equally and have a voice.

What is your pet hate?
Dog poo and stepping in it.

Tell us about your best holiday.
When I worked in Madagascar we went to Tamatave. All the old French Villas bordered up from a bygone era were fascinating. There is a little island off Tamatave home to the original pirates. They have a graveyard with crude tombstones with a faded skull and crossbones carved in it.

Mandi Byrne

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I have lived in Parkes since 1984 when I was posted here to teach PE at Parkes High School. What I most like about Parkes is that it is a really good size as it offers lots of sport, and enough activities to keep us busy. It is a great place to raise our kids.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? My husband and I own and run Byrne Clothing and Worklocker Parkes. I enjoy the formal wear side of the business the most and love seeing the finished result, especially the weddings.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? When we get time off I love to garden, and tend my Angus cows.

What are you really good at? I pride myself on my attention to detail, and my organisation skills.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? If I could have a superpower it would be flying so I could see my kids quickly as they all live in different places now!

What is your pet hate? Other people’s bad body odour!

Tell us about your best holiday. My best holiday was our trip to Canada a couple of years ago – it is amazing. I loved Lake Louise and The Rockies. Canada is closely followed by a recent trip to Darwin, it really is Australia’s last frontier!

Tony Horsington

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I visited Parkes on a semi-regular basis during the 1970’s, but moved here from Windsor in January 2010 so my wife Heather could take up an offer to teach at Red Bend College. We love living in the country away from the fog and smog, traffic lights, queues and the horrific traffic congestion.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I recently retired from my mortgage broking business. I am now known as a self-funded retiree with an interest in gardening, motoring, collecting old Stanley tools and home renovations.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? ‘Spare time’ is a misnomer as I always have more things to do than time available. Weekends are often spent visiting family in either Sydney, Canberra, Wagga, Albury, Port Macquarie and visiting my 92-year-old mother in Narooma, There is also venturing out with the Parkes Antique Motor Club on outings.

What are you really good at? I was renowned during my working career as fixer of companies or organisations in trouble.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? I have many wishes, three of which are: to wind the clock back several decades to a time when the pace of living was a little less frantic; to equip Australia with a strong stable government for the people; and to prevent global natural disasters which cause so much damage and misery.

What is your pet hate? Unsolicited phone calls, sms messages and emails.

Tell us about your best holiday. Of the many holidays both overseas and within Australia, any long trip away to see the Australian outback is the best.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
Close to 23 years. I love being close to my friends and family.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? Byrne Clothing, working with the best people and listening to good tunes while we’re at it!

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Hang out with friends, you’ll mostly find us eating parmys, watching footy or dancing around while on local shopping adventures.

What are you really good at? Being late and playing pool.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? The ability to teleport.

What is your pet hate? When people use the wrong homophones and don’t use their blinkers.

Tell us about your best holiday. I spent seven weeks in America last year and had the absolute best time. It still wasn’t long enough! A couple of highlights were meeting some incredible friends on Contiki, hiking and camping through the most amazing national parks (especially the Rocky Mountains and Yellowstone), skiing Whistler Mountain, having a hot chocolate at Central Perk, watching multiple Broadway musicals and absolutely everything about New York City!

George Pratt

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
All my life, except two years I worked for NSW Ambulance Services in Sydney. I came back to Parkes around 1977 andin 1987 I became officer in charge of the Parkes Ambulance station

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I retired in 2002 and have been a Councillor since 2004. I am president of the Men’s Shed, help out with the Memorial Hill project and do volunteer work at various venues. I enjoy spending time with the elderly in our town as they have such a wealth of knowledge, stories and lessons I can learn from.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? I enjoy going to my son’s property at Yeoval. I also enjoy outdoor activities like shooting and fishing. I restore and clean vintage motorcycles.

What are you really good at? I like doing a proper job with the right equipment. There is no half-hearted way of doing things for me.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? I would like to have a power to look after the well-being of all the elderly and homeless people in Australia.

What is your pet hate? Inconsiderate and overbearing people, and people wearing mirror sunglasses who get into your face.

Tell us about your best holiday. I went on a 14-day cruise around the islands of New Caledonia. Once I got over being sea sick, I enjoyed the native culture and there was so much to see.

Katrina Dwyer

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in Parkes for most of my life moving away for a short time during my university years. The people make Parkes, and no matter where you are in the world, most people know or have a connection to Parkes.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work for Parkes Shire Council as the Brand and Marketing Manager. I love the breadth of projects and campaigns I get to work on that benefit the community and the opportunities that I continue to enjoy within Local Government.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Our weekends are filled with kids sport, spending time with family and friends.

What are you really good at? I would say being organised. I love a to-do-list!

If you could have a superpower what would it be? Time travel/see the future.

What is your pet hate? Incorrect use of grammar, especially on social media (gosh I hope I don’t have any here!)

Tell us about your best holiday. Our recent holiday to Queenstown, NZ for a friend’s wedding – it is a spectacularly beautiful place. Holiday highlight was the trip to Milford sound where we returned via helicopter with a stop on a glacial mountain top.