How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like about living here?
I was born here and I like how it’s a small town with big ideas. No where else would you think of building an international airport for the Elvis Festival.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work?
I work at Northparkes Mines and I like the Wednesday bacon and egg rolls, Thursday ice creams and Friday morning teas…!

What do you do to unwind after work and on weekends?
Muck around with the kids and fixing the damn tap again.

What are you really good at?
What my wife said was inappropriate, so I’ll stick with being a good husband.

If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Go-go gadget arms.

What is your pet hate?
My little brother’s chickens that he still hasn’t picked up four weeks after their holidays.

Tell us about your best holiday ever.
Contiki around Europe when I was 19 – yep, goooood times.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like about living here?
I’ve lived here since 1974, so that’s 43 years. It’s a very active community, full of people who care.

What do you do with your time and what do you enjoy about doing it?
I was employed and ran my own business before I retired. I’ve always been involved in community events. I’m the new President of the Parkes Men’s Shed, and was in- volved in starting it up. It’s great to see the benefit to the members who come here and the contribution it makes towards the community.

What do you do to unwind on weekends?
I played squash and golf, but since retiring I spend most of my time assisting in community events.

What are you really good at?
I’ve got strong organisation and management skills.

If you could have a super power, what would it be?
To bring healing to people with health issues.

What is your pet hate?
I don’t tend to get upset about things, though I suppose a pet hate would be people who don’t appreciate the advantages they have.

Cheryl Newsom

How long have you lived in Canowindra and what do you like about living here?
I have lived in Canowindra for five years. It is very quiet, although sometimes a little too quiet, but I am close to my two grandchildren. They make my day, every day.

What did you enjoy about your job and what are your plans now that you are stepping down as publisher?
I have been the publisher of the Phoenix Group of Newspapers for four years, and have really enjoyed the weekly challenges. I love meeting the business people and learning more about their business. I plan to do a lot of travelling, and will be available for businesses and big media clients for consultancy initiatives.

What do you do to unwind after work and on weekends?
I do a lot of reading, and love my garden.

What are you really good at?
I believe that one of my strengths is my sales ability – this still continues to give me a buzz.

What is your pet hate? People who do not respond to emails and phone calls.

Tell us about your best holiday ever.
I have had a lot of exciting holidays, although some of my best holidays would include, time in Italy at Easter with my two girls and a wildlife game drive north of Durban in South Africa. I am looking forward to my holiday this year to Italy, Spain, Portugal and London.

Lionel Lovett

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like about living here? I have lived in Parkes for around 35 years. I wasn’t born here, but I call it my home town. What I like about Parkes is the people I have met over the years. Parkes is a community that has an endless supply of good people.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy about your work? I work at Parkes Public School, and the thing I like about working here is the school community: the staff that I work with and the students’ families that I meet and greet every day.

What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? I like to unwind by just lying on the lounge watching a good movie or TV programme.

What are you really good at? I don’t really know what I’m good at, but I do have a knack for looking at things differently.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? My super power would be teleporting.

What is your pet hate? I don’t think I have a pet hate, but if I did it would prob- ably be people not refilling the printer or photocopiers.

Tell us about your best holiday ever. I loved a Christmas and New Year holiday. My family went to the Gold Coast, doing all the theme parks and eating out. We stayed in a penthouse at a hotel for a week. Then we spent another week at Port Macquarie, where we just travelled around the area seeing the sights. One thrill was watching my son catch his first fish on his own. Awesome sight!