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Parkes Phoenix

Our Gal – Josie Jennings

July 31, 2020 By editor

Middleton Public School Captain – Josie Jennings

How old are you? I am 12 years old.

How long have you lived in or around Parkes and what do you like about living here? What I like about Parkes is being able to make new friends.

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

What is your favourite after school activity? I love to play touch footy with my friends.

What is your favourite food and movie? My favourite movie is ‘Pixels’ as it has Adam Sandler in it. My favourite food is spaghetti bolognaise as it’s normally the only thing I like.

What music do you listen to? I listen to any kind of music. To me it’s nice to try something new.

What do you want to do when you grow up? I want to be a world-famous actress like Emma Watson.

If you could have a super power what would it be? My superpower would be to be invisible so I can steal mum’s chocolate.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself. I started acting with Parkes M&D in 2019. My first ever show was Shrek Jnr.

Our Bloke – Lachlan Unger

July 24, 2020 By editor

Parkes Christian School Captain – Lachlan Unger

How old are you? I am 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 and I like Parkes because of its community.

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

What is your favourite after school activity? I love to play sports and hang out with friends.

What is your favourite food and movie? My favourite food is pizza and my movie is Spiderman: Homecoming.

What music do you listen to? I listen to rock and rap.

What do you want to do when you grow up? I want to be a motorbike mechanic.

If you could have a super power what would it be? I would want to fly.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself. I love to party!

Our Gal – Ruby Wilson

July 17, 2020 By editor

Parkes Christian School Captain – Ruby Wilson

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 for three years, then moved to a house near Peak Hill on a farm. The people in Parkes are very friendly and the town isn’t too busy. I just wish there was a river where I could go fishing.

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

What is your favourite after school activity? It is tennis.

What is your favourite food and movie? I like spaghetti and meatballs, but my favourite ‘food’ are Tim Tams. My favourite movie is Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker IX.

What music do you listen to? I listen to mostly worship bands such as Hillsong Worship, Bethel Music, Planet Shakers and many more. I also like Imagine Dragons.

What do you want to do when you grow up? Be a marine biologist.

If you could have a super power what would it be? My superpower would be all the superpowers of Spiderman, so wall climbing, web shooting, spider sense and all the others, plus I would also want to be able to shrink and grow, like Ant-Man.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself. I have had a near death experience. I was cray fishing with my dad and we went down to check a line that was being tugged on by a crayfish. We heard a terrifying cracking sound and turned around to see four giant branches crashing down from the tree we were just sitting under. If that crayfish didn’t tug on the line, we would most likely be dead! The crayfish saved our lives literally.

Our Bloke – Taj Lovett

July 10, 2020 By editor

Parkes Public School Captain – Taj Lovett

How old are you? 11

How long have you lived in or around Parkes and what do you like about living here? Since I was born. I like the different sports that you can play here.

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

What is your favourite after school activity? Football training, chatting with friends on social media and games.

What is your favourite food and movie? Tacos and Back to the Future.

What music do you listen to? Some rap and something with a good beat.

What do you want to do when you grow up? A famous NRL player.

If you could have a super power what would it be? To be able to fly because if I need to get somewhere quick, I can just get there.

Our Gal – Lucy MacGregor

July 3, 2020 By editor

Lucy MacGregor – Parkes Public School Captain

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 in Parkes my whole life. It has good schools and has good opportunities.

What year are you in? Year 6.

What is your favourite after school activity? Netball.

What is your favourite food and movie? Cookies and cream ice-cream and I like action movies.

What music do you listen to? 5 Seconds of Summer.

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

If you could have a super power what would it be? To be invisible.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself. I have been to the Sydney Opera House to represent our school as part of the Choral Festival three times.

Our Bloke – Derrick Milling

June 26, 2020 By editor

Derrick Milling

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? We moved here in 1997, it really is a lovely big village. I walk slower now, time is less critical.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I’m retired from paid employment, and assist with Anglican Church worship commitments and being part of the vibrant team of volunteers at Georgie’s Pantry.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Gardening is such great soothing therapy. I also love reading and going mad doing Sudokus.

What makes you proud? I’m thankful to God for such a great family of Sandra, our children and grandchildren, their Christian values and attitude to others. Very thankful for volunteers who assisted at the Pantry during this drought period.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? Probably a turtle (pull your head in Derrick), and swim whenever I liked – cool!

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Movie: To Kill a Mocking Bird; book: Long Walk To Freedom by Nelson Mandela; Song: Abraham, Martin & John sung by Dion.

Tell us about your best holiday. We have been to Ireland three times and in 2015 we also attended the Anzac Dawn service at the Villers Bretonneux Australian National Memorial on the Western front. The Irish humour knocks me out!

What is on your bucket list? I want to fly! I used to jump off the woodshed as a kid, and I still can’t get it right. Kangaroo Island when it’s open again would be great.

Our Gal – Natalie Quince

June 19, 2020 By editor

Natalie Quince

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in Parkes for almost 14 years. I love Parkes’ sense of community – people look out for each other.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work for Anglicare managing Georgie’s Boutique and Georgie’s Pantry. I am also a Priest at St George’s Anglican Church. I enjoy being able to help people live better lives. Sometimes even the smallest thing like a phone call or a loaf of bread can make a difference to someone’s day.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I confess that I love online window shopping. I get creative ideas for the Boutique, I can plan a virtual holiday or imagine my house renovations actually happening.

What makes you proud? Kindness and courage. I feel so proud of people, especially children, when I see them being kind to one another. I am also enormously proud of the courage that our community has shown over the last few years in finding ways to battle drought and now isolation.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? Maybe an owl. I like how content they appear. I imagine them knowing some great secret that gives them wisdom and inner peace.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Luckily for me (being a priest) my favourite book is the one that I have to read almost every day – the Bible. I find reading my Bible a bit like chatting to a friend. It encourages me, gives me good advice, points out the truth about things and I find it entertaining.

Tell us about your best holiday. Japan in the winter time. It was like being in Narnia.

What is on your bucket list? Design and build my own home, go to New York, join an archaeological tour of Israel and the Middle East.

Our Bloke – Luke Nash

June 12, 2020 By editor

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I was born in Parkes and have been fortunate to live here for the past 26 years. Parkes has many great facilities, friendly people and endless prospects. The serenity of country living is second to none!

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work at Parkes Shire Council as a management accountant. On weekends I assist in our family business at Parkes News & Gifts. The opportunity to work with a great team at council whilst undertaking a diverse range of tasks makes me enjoy coming to work each day.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I enjoy playing sport and socialising with friends. I also have a passion for running and hope to achieve my goal of finishing a half-marathon by the end of this year.

What makes you proud? I’m always proud to be an Australian. Australia is a place where compassion, courage and resilience are always displayed. There are endless opportunities, freedom of speech, quality education and health systems. I always feel privileged to live in this great country!

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? The ability to be a bird, flying high with breath-taking views and watching over the land.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? As a massive sports fan, ‘Blind Side’ is my favourite movie.

Tell us about your best holiday. Travelling across Europe and UK in 2018 was an unforgettable experience.

What is on your bucket list? My next item is to travel to New Zealand once travel restrictions are lifted and to conquer some of the amazing adventure activities in Queenstown.

Our Gal – Sonia Bland

June 5, 2020 By editor

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? For 17 years. I like living in the country, with wide open spaces, fresh air and no traffic.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am the office manager at Parkes Early Childhood Centre (PECC), and enjoy working with such a supportive, professional team and helping families settle in. I’m also involved in ministry at Parkes Presbyterian church, but my most important, challenging and rewarding job is being a mum.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I really enjoy getting outside as much as I can, whether it’s going for a run, going camping or just pottering about in the yard.

What makes you proud? My three daughters, especially when they’re working hard at overcoming challenges, obstacles or difficulties.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? An eagle – for the freedom, the view, catching those updrafts and thermals and soaring above the earth.

What is your all-time favourite book and why? I really enjoying reading about people’s lives and experiences. Three recent favourites are: Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales, Just a Little Run Around the World by Rosie Swale Pope, and My Island Home by Tim Winton.

Tell us about your best holiday. Walking the Milford Track in New Zealand over four days with my husband Craig, and getting helicoptered over an avalanche zone part way through. Spectacular!

Our Bloke – Mal Westcott

May 29, 2020 By editor

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I was born in Parkes and lived and farmed at Alectown until moving into Parkes 23 years ago and starting the first Bed & Breakfast in Parkes on 8th May 1998. Parkes is a very friendly and progressive town and it is easy to be part of this community.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am very fortunate to still work with my nephew in his farming operation, and find it very satisfying. Helen and I have also enjoyed our years of running the B & B and meeting amazing people.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Visiting our two sons and their families, watching the grandchildren develop. We like to travel and look forward to being able to do that again. I remember my father saying ‘you don’t learn unless you travel’.

What makes you proud? Family and their achievements. I had great times with the M&D, and have been a member of about four choral groups and have really enjoyed these experiences.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I have known a couple of dogs in my life time and they have wormed their way into my heart so I would hope if I was a dog my owner would spoil me and I could return the favour.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? If I start reading a Wilbur Smith book, I can’t put it down until it is finished. He is an amazing author. I also like Tom Clancy.

Tell us about your best holiday. We went to Japan recently and met up with two young ladies we hosted in the B&B and had the privilege of having them guide us around their country.

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