David Acheson

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like about living here? I live in Forbes but spend a lot of time in Parkes.

What do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am retired. I enjoy having time to devote to my community organisations.

What do you do in your spare time? I like to read, fix things and I try to learn something new every day.

What are you really good at? As a male I am really good at multi-tasking…

What is your pet hate? Non-committal people.

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

Tell us about your best holiday. Christmas 2017: Wagga, Narrandera, Albury, Tooleybuc, Swan Hill, Lake Boga, Adelaide, Cape Jervis, Port Adelaide and Victor Harbour.

Jane Kaczmarek

How long have you lived in Parkes? I moved to Parkes two months ago! It has been a big change from Sydney, where I’ve lived for the past six years — but I love it!

What do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I’m an astrophysicist at the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope. The telescope recently had a major upgrade to its receiver, which has the global astronomical community buzzing. Part of my job is to get the new receiver and system working in its full capacity. That is what I love so much about my job — not only do I get to study the intricacies of galaxies far, far away — but I get to help other astronomers carry out truly ground-breaking research and push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe!

What do you do in your spare time? In my spare time, I love camping and hiking. I’ve started to explore the local national parks. I also love pickling vegies!!

What are you really good at? Laughing at my own jokes!

What is your pet hate? Parsley, it tastes like soap!

If you could have a superpower what would it be? I would LOVE the ability to be in multiple places at once!

Tell us about your best holiday. After I completed my PhD thesis, my partner and I went camping in the South Island of New Zealand for four weeks. This was by far the longest vacation I have ever taken and it was wonderful to have the time to just enjoy the outdoors and relax. As an added bonus, I saw the aurora australis for the first time!

Tim Watts

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I have lived in Parkes on and off for around six years. A lot of my family grew up and still live in Parkes so I have been coming to Parkes every year since I was born. I was also born here.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am the Manager of the Police and Citizens Youth Club (PCYC). I absolutely love this job and am passionate about what the PCYC does as an organisation. There aren’t many jobs around where you can be stuck behind a personal computer for most of the day then go and join in gymnastics class, play basketball or help kids with an art project. On top of the sports and activities, the work our Police do in the club and around the community incredibly valuable. I am also a Rotarian which is a great organisation to be a part of.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? I have a beautiful daughter Tilly and my wife Lizzie and I spend most of our weekends with Tilly… trying to keep up with her. In summer I enjoy water skiing, camping and fishing. I also try to take on the odd project. At the moment I am experimenting with an indoor veggie garden
based on aquaponics.

What are you really good at? Annoying my wife, blowing bubbles off my tongue and I like tinkering with electronics and programming. I am currently putting together a program that if all goes well PCYC will take up state wide to give staff more time to concentrate on activities with kids rather
than paperwork.

What is your pet hate? People who judge before taking the time to understand the other side of the story.

Tell us about your best holiday. The best holiday was our honeymoon. Lizzie had no idea where we were going until we showed up at the airport in Sydney. We spent a week in Cambodia, which was amazing. Then to Thailand for a week. The people, food and the sites, particularly in Cambodia, were fantastic. My ideal holidays in Australia is a trip to either Narooma or camping at Burrendong with the family.

Norma Garment

How long have you lived in Parkes? Barry, Heather, Derek and I moved here in November 1979. I love the smaller town community environment. Easy to shop, easy to park and easy to make friends.

What do you do currently and do you enjoy about it? I teach scripture at three primary schools. I love the preparation, the feedback from the kids and to see them enjoy the lesson and get something from it. We all enjoy singing together.

What do you do in your spare time? We are now retired and enjoy going to church to worship, family, gardening, car club activities, craft groups and friends.

What are you really good at? I might be a bit of an organiser. I enjoy seeing everyone getting together to make something good happen.

What is your pet hate? Swearing – I hate it when I do it and hearing it come out of childrens’ mouths, especially when God or Jesus’ name is used as a swear word.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? To make the love that Bishop Michael Curry (Royal Wedding) spoke about, become a reality all over the world.

Tell us about your best holiday. When Barry and I take short trips around Australia in the caravan. Every trip has been the best one. I also enjoy short trips with the Parkes Antique Car Club to see things we have driven past for years and enjoy the fellowship  of other collectors of fine old cars.

Richard Rice

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
All my life. I like the people in Parkes.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am a farm manager and enjoy working outside.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? I watch and coach my kids at sport.

What are you really good at? Not much I am still working on it.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? To run even faster than I am now.

What is your pet hate? People that are happy to complain about something but are not prepared to get in and help.

Tell us about your best holiday. Travelling to Uluru and around Central Australia and Queensland.

Melanie Suitor

How long have you lived in the Central West and what do you like most about living here? I’ve lived in the Central West – Blayney, Parkes and Orange since 1994. I love the laid-back country lifestyle without the hustle and bustle of a big city. I also love how friendly everyone is. There is a real sense of belonging and community.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am the shared Parkes, Forbes and
Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer for 15 years! I love the diversity of the role – every day is something different. It’s really rewarding to be making a difference to people’s lives.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Spend time with my husband Ben and my two-year-old daughter Felicity. Also love catching up with other family and friends.

What are you really good at? Proofreading. It’s a thankless task sometimes – but I love language and have an eye for detail.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? Teleporting. How great would it be to be able to click your fingers and be at your destination without all the travel?

What is your pet hate? Being late and being unorganised.

Tell us about your best holiday. Anything at the beach is a winner. My best holiday was probably this year’s trip to Bonny Hills with my family. It was Felicity’s first time at the beach and she loved it. We went every day.

Dane Millerd

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I currently live in Forbes but work in Parkes when I am not travelling for my other roles. I love how central it is to everywhere and there are some amazing people.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work as a freelance multi-media specialist and filmmaker, but also in media and communications with Currajong Disability Services.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? If I am not working on film projects I can usually be found playing with my kids, playing guitar, writing, drawing or spending time with my wife, family or friends.

What are you really good at? Drawing, writing and storytelling. I am sure I have other talents but that’s up to others to decide.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? If I say I want to be Batman does that count? Is being bitten by a bat a superpower or a pre-cursor to the Hendra virus? Lol

What is your pet hate? I have a few pet hates. The biggest would be people who don’t learn from their mistakes or people who only hear and don’t listen.

Tell us about your best holiday. Best holiday outside my honeymoon was a bucks party holiday in the US for two weeks all expenses paid. It included NBA games, NFL, Yosemite, LA, San Fransisco and Las Vegas. Hard to beat.

Christie Green

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I moved to Parkes in April 1992. I like living in Parkes because it’s been a great place to raise my family and I just love the Elvis and Abba festivals.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work for Neighbourhood Central in Community Transport. I find my job very rewarding. We provide a wonderful community service and I just love dealing with our volunteers and clients.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Music or I’m in the garden. The singing trio, Amitie, keeps me very busy or I can be found at The Parkes Musical and Dramatic society rehearsing for a show (currently Motherhood the Musical).

What are you really good at? I’m not sure what I’m really good at but I love singing, actually I’m really good at being organised, lol.

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

What is your pet hate? Kids putting dishes in sink when dishwasher is right there.

Tell us about your best holiday. Cruising every year with Amitie to South Pacific islands on Rock The Boat or Cruise N Groove.

Ian Giffey

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived here 15 years. I moved
here from Inverell as my wife is a Parkes local. I like the family life we have here, and spending time with my grandchildren.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am retired. My previous job was as
Clerk for the County Council in Inverell.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Fishing. We just came back from a weekend in Mudgee with my grandson. We went motorbike riding, kayaking and fishing.

What are you really good at? Not much. I do a few jobs around the house.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? Never thought about it. Life’s okay.

What is your pet hate? Dust and drought.

Tell us about your best holiday. That’ll be the next one. I did spend six weeks riding my motorbike around Australia with the Vietnam Vet Motorcycle Club to raise money, and loved North Queensland. We’ve been back there a few times.

Helen Westcott

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I have called Parkes Home for almost 50 years , coming here in February 1969, after marrying Malcolm. I was here for a short time in Trundle and Parkes for 3 years from 62-64. Parkes is a very friendly community and we have a progressive council looking after us.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I was a teacher at Parkes High School for many years and since retiring at the end of 1997, we moved into the family home in town and started operating Kadina Bed and Breakfast, the 1st in Parkes, celebrating 20 years next month. Both Mal and I thoroughly enjoy hosting people from all areas of Australia and overseas and have made friends with many. We have just returned from Japan where we met up with two ladies that we hosted many years ago and we call that a highlight of our trip.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Golf is an interest I have, and I play 9 holes most Tuesdays and Fridays. I enjoy, cooking, sewing, reading and chatting with friends.

What are you really good at? First up procrastinating, and then more seriously, trusting that I offer friendship and hospitality to those who choose to stay at Kadina B&B.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? To have rain when we think we need it, but I know it is in God’s hands when it is delivered and I must be patient  and act wisely, encouraging those around me.

What is your pet hate? People not encouraging and helping others. Making extra work for some, for example, people who don’t place litter in the correct receptacle

Tell us about your best holiday. We wanted to take our sons on an overseas holiday, but with a drought in 82/83, it was made difficult. However, we decided on Lord Howe Island, a decision we will never regret. As we left the Island one of the boys said, “wonder who will return here first”. Both have been back.