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.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in Parkes my whole life. I love the sense of community and being close to family and friends.
Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I have worked at Byrne Clothing for over nine years and love it! I work with a bunch of total legends who are dedicated to making every day enjoyable while delivering a high standard of product quality and knowledge.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Spending time with family and friends, playing cricket with the Honey Badgers, playing drums and watching basketball.

What makes you proud? To be my mother’s son. Sharon is an incredibly strong, kind, loving and generous human that inspires every part of my life. Watching my son, Kyuss, learn, grow and create makes me immensely proud.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? Does a Wookie count? Tearing round the galaxy with Han Solo would be epic! If not, a tiger… they are pretty epic.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Movie: Mad Max Fury Road – the cinematography, the score, the acting. It’s just perfect. Closely followed by Blade Runner 2049, Empire Strikes Back, Ironman and Endgame. Song: Muse – Knights of Cydonia. It’s just an epic, climatic masterpiece. Book: Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Tell us about your best holiday. Close call between Europe and the USA, but I have to go with America. As a huge Lakers fan, seeing them play, plus ice hockey, Broadway shows, Disneyland, Vegas, Grand Canyon, Food…the food…yep… USA.

What is on your bucket list? Be an awesome dad and husband; travel China, Japan, Peru and Iceland; live to experience scientific evidence of extraterrestrial life; go to Coachella.

Shev Brown

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I’ve lived in Parkes since 2005. I like how the community is engaged and forward thinking. Not just sitting around complaining about things, but actually getting involved to make the town better.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work as a Teacher’s Aide at Holy Family School. I love working with the kids. I love their fabulous personalities – they make me laugh every day.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? What spare time? Just give me half an hour on occasion to read good historical fiction.

What makes you proud? Being organised and singing.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I’d definitely be a pet cat. Mine’s got it pretty good.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? ‘At Last’ by Etta James, it was my wedding song.

Tell us about your best holiday. With my family last year, we travelled 13,000km towing a camper trailer through the middle of Australia – a lot of it totally off grid. We did the Canning Stock Route which is the most remote 4WD track in the entire world. An amazing adventure.

What is on your bucket list? Diving with Great White Sharks off South Australia.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I’ve lived in Parkes all my life – a great family town.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am basically semi-retired, but still working with my wife, son and daughter in-law. Loved the video shop when it was operating, now we run TSG Parkes and Forbes and Network Video Forbes.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I enjoy the occasional round of golf, like reading and watching movies, and am satisfied with gardening when I do it, which isn’t often enough.

What makes you proud? I’m proud when I finish a task successfully, I’m proud of our children and grandchildren and I’m proud of my wife.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I’m not an animal person.What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? My favourite all time movie is Bad Day at Black Rock (Spencer Tracy), but a more recent one is Leap Year, a rom com.

Tell us about your best holiday. I would say my best holiday was when our son was posted to Belgrade and we toured through some of the eastern European countries.

What is on your bucket list? I’d like to travel and see more of Australia.