Darrin Gibson

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I have lived in Parkes for approximately nine years, however I was born here in 1967 at Parkes District Hospital. Without doubt I love the people and the relaxed life here.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am semi-retired, however I do manage a small property portfolio with a view to employment at Maccas. I love working with people, in this case tenants. I try to be respectful and prompt and I get the same back in return generally.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? I can usually be found in my vegie patch growing something for dinner or robbing one of my bee hives, however I do like to frequent the local cafes for a chat.

What are you really good at? I am really good at negotiating with my partner to get the best outcome for her. She would probably say the same about me actually.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? If I had a superpower I would be Super Mayor and cut our rates by 10% every leap year.

What is your pet hate? My pet hate is people who stretch the truth too far and our current state of politics.

Tell us about your best holiday. My best holiday was in Vietnam as a young soldier backpacking on a motorbike from Saigon to Hanoi exploring all the historical war sites including the Battle of Long Tan at Nui Dat. Also revisiting Vietnam when I took Deb, my partner, when we stayed in 5 star hotels and not in backpackers accommodation, woohoo.

Fran Dixon

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in Parkes for 47 years after Graham & I married in 1971 – Parkes is a good friendly country town for bringing up your family & it also has good schools and sporting facilities.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I retired from hairdressing six years ago after working for 45 years – now I like to travel with Graham in our caravan and spend time with our six wonderful grandchildren. I am also a member of Parkes Quota where we help children with hearing disabilities, disadvantaged women and many more overseas and community activities.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Don’t seem to get a lot of spare time but when I do I like to do craft & sewing of any kind, but my favourite is patchwork. I also like to get in the kitchen and cook all sorts of different foods. Weekends in the winter I still play hockey, summer time walking, and I like to get in the garden.

What are you really good at? My husband would say “telling him what to do”!! – but I would say my sewing and cooking. Helping and making people happy.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? To slow down the clock so I could fit more into a day, week, month and year.

What is your pet hate? Rude, arrogant and selfish people. Crumbs in my honey, margarine & vegemite.

Tell us about your best holiday. I have had a few, but the standout one would be the trip my husband and I took to Canada and Alaska in 2008 – the salmon was to die for.

Craig Gibson

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in Parkes most of my life. I have spent time elsewhere, but have always called Parkes home because of the country life style and community spirit.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I run and operate a small demolition and asbestos removal business. I am also with Fire and Rescue NSW for 13 years where I am currently the Captain of 417 Fire Station Parkes.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? In my spare time I do karate working towards my black belt. I enjoy time at the gym. On weekends I enjoy the company of my children and grandchildren.

What are you really good at? Being a fire fighter, it gives me the opportunity to help people.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? To protect people from fire.

What is your pet hate? People who throw cigarette butts out their car windows.

Tell us about your best holiday. Recently I spent a week at Narooma to catch up with family, we went kayaking with the stingrays and seals. It was just good to be with family.

Angela Wilson

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
Most of my life apart from 10 years away at university and working. I love it because my family is here and they get to be a huge part of our girls’ lives. I love our community and the way it rallies together to help and support others.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work part-time at Parkes Christian School as a Special Education Teacher. The staff are amazing and the students wonderful. I am also the facilitator of the Currajong Autism & Special Needs Group to raise awareness and run fundraisers for projects and helping out families with children with special needs.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Spending time with family and friends and pottering in my garden.

What are you really good at? I guess I am good at having an idea and making it come to life.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? The power to take away pain and sickness from those who are suffering.

What is your pet hate? People who don’t treat others as equals.

Keith Turk

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I’ve been in Parkes since May 2012. We moved from Newcastle to be closer to family and a brand new granddaughter. I love the friendliness and the slow pace of the town, and the fact that there are NO traffic lights. People are courteous and patient, they don’t cut you off for a park, they open doors for you and they always have time for a quick chat. Nobody ever seems to be in a hurry.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? Some people call me a street-walker… actually I go around to all homes and farms reading electric power meters. I enjoy getting the exercise and the friendly folk I meet (and the bribes they come up with to try to get me to change the reading… wish I
could!)

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? I’m involved with Parkes Camera Club, been interested in photography for years. Love my TV shows and working on my PC which is interfaced with my Amateur Radio setup. Talking and sending/receiving photos to friends around the world via shortwave.

What are you really good at? Working with computers and photography – getting there.

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

What is your pet hate? People leaving rubbish in the streets.

Tell us about your best holiday. My partner and I went to Cairns in Far North Queensland for five weeks. We are due for another great holiday.

Elly Tom

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
Since 1994 moving from Victoria. Parkes has many great community groups to get involved in.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I’m self-employed and partner in our farm business with my husband. We run merino/fat lambs, cattle and grow a few crops. I really enjoy being a primary producer, in particular a wool grower. I’m a qualified wool classer, and love the natural wool fibre.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? I play clarinet in Parkes Shire Concert Band and Lachlan Regional Orchestra, and saxophone with an ensemble for fun. I also volunteer with the Parkes Primary School band. Playing music and supporting it in the community is really a passion of mine.

What are you really good at? Caring for and enjoying time with my family and friends.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? Predict the weather – a farmer’s dream

What is your pet hate? People who drop or leave rubbish about.

Tell us about your best holiday. Every holiday is a good one, but last year’s sixweek road trip around Western Australia’s wildlflowers and National Parks was memorable.

Warwick Tom

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I was born in Parkes and lived here all my life. Parkes has a great community spirit, always willing to volunteer and help others when asked.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I retired from farming about two years ago and moved to a unit in town. Since then cultural activities and flying have kept me out of mischief.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Represent Council on the Arts Out West Board and Cultural Committee, help Parkes Aero Club and volunteer as a guide at the Parkes Aviation Museum.

What are you really good at? Being myself.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? Attach a recorder to my brain to store all my thoughts for future use.

What is your pet hate? Hoons with loud exhausts racing around our streets.

Tell us about your best holiday. Taking my wife and three young boys on a trip overseas on a campervan touring holiday.

Gracey Denham-Jones

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I have lived in Parkes my whole life (which is 15 and a half years). I love the opportunities that I have been given here in Parkes to pursue my love for the theatre, dance, sport and music.

What year are you and what do you enjoy about school? I’m a year 10 student at Parkes High School. My favourite subjects are art, music, PE and English. I enjoy representing the school in hockey and at musical and drama nights. I also like going to school to see all of my friends and peers.

What do you do in your spare time after school and on weekends? I’m at Twinkle Toes Dance Studio five days a week, either dancing or teaching. I also like to learn new songs to play on my guitar and sing. On weekends I like to relax or go water skiing, hanging out with family and friends.

What are you really good at? I’m really good at singing, dancing, acting, playing goalkeeper in hockey and keeping my parents busy.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? If I could have one superpower it would probably be to time travel. It would be amazing to go back in time to see what it was like when my grandmother was a child.

Paul Lewin

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like about living here? I moved to Parkes in 2005, so this is my 13th year. I love Parkes and the people here, it is a great county town and everybody is so friendly.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy about your work? I work at 1300 BUGMAN Pty Ltd. I’ve been a Pest Controller for over 15 years and I love the variability of our work. We could be spraying spiders in Forbes on one job and tracking down termites in Parkes on the next one.

What do you do in your spare time after work and over weekends? I enjoy spending time with my partner Alice and of course, like all males, I enjoy time with the boys playing golf, lawn bowls, pool, Xbox or just relaxing with a drink or two.

What are you really good at? Making mistakes lol… maybe FIFA on the Xbox!

If you could have a super power what would it be? To make the world a happy place, I don’t know what my name would be but it would be awesome to have the ability to spread happiness around sometimes!

What is your pet hate? Lying, I hate lying.

Tell us about your best holiday ever?
This is a hard one. I have had so many great holidays but it would have to be Tassie. Alice and I go to Tassie quite a bit. We went to the Mona Museum and participated in the Taste of Tassie and lots of other touristy things. My brother takes us cray fishing and we have done some tuna fishing. I’m not much of a fisherman but the whole experience was amazing!

How long have you lived in Parkes and what did you like about living here? 18 years – I love country life as I am a massive tomboy. The sports facilities are fantastic and everyone is so friendly.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy about your work? I am in the Australian Army based at Victoria Barracks in Sydney where I am a supply co-ordinator. My job allows me the opportunity to play football.

What do you do in your spare time after work and over weekends? I go to the gym a lot, the beach, spend a lot of time training for football obviously, and I enjoy visiting family.

What are you really good at? Sleeping, cooking and I think I am a pretty good sister to my two brothers.

If you could have a super power what would it be? Being able to read people’s minds – I might just become a millionaire!

What is your pet hate? People driving without a blinker.

Tell us about your best holiday ever?
It was a sporting holiday to PNG last year with the Prime Minister’s XIII to play in the first international test game with the Papua New Guinea female rugby league team. The kids were just so friendly, always laughing and everyone loves football. I’d love to go back for another trip.