What makes you happy?
Mary Gray, Claire Rawthorne and Harvey Gray:
Mary: Going on a holiday.
Claire: Having ice cream and chocolate.
Annabelle Munday, Charlie Tye and Tori Bennett:
Annabelle: Going to the beach.
Charlie: Playing with Tori.
Tori: Riding ponies and birthday cake.
Hayden and Jason Anderson:
Hayden: Everything! I like stories and Lego and playing with Allana.
Bernie Crowe
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.
What is your advice for living a good life?
Aileen Townsend: Eat well and exercise, also be friendly and get along with everyone.
Chris Dunn: Work hard, enjoy sport, a few beers and good company.
John Hodge: Relax and enjoy it. Also, it’s prob- ably good to stay active.
Parkes High School students Amy Tanswell, Denver Leongson (left) and Sheridyn Bicket (right) were great in assisting with site co-ordination, registration set-up, allocation of sites and bags and running the barbeque at the Clean Up Australia Day event on Sunday. They are with Michelle Bicket (back left), organiser of the day, and Callum Bicket who helped too.
Bev Bokeyar has been volunteering on Clean Up Australia Day with her husband Bob for more than 20 years.
Students from the Parkes Public School primary choir performed for the Seniors Festival morning tea and sing-along on Monday.
Cr Ken McGrath pitched in his help to clean up Parkes on Sunday.
Bronte Warren, Melissa Matthews and Lynda Sny- man grabbed a complimentary cuppa before work for International Women’s Day.
Quota ladies at the Northparkes International Women’s Day event at Cooke Park on Wednesday were (L-R) Miriam Luyt, Jill Crisp, Valda Woods, Kay Craft and Raelene Rout.
Members of the Parkes Men’s Shed enjoyed morning tea and a chat on Wednesday. L-R are Doug Allen, Michael Pettit, Les Ahearne, Tom Forrester, Row-
ley Pengilly, Ron Fewings, Brian Drabsch and Dan McIntyre.
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.
What do you like about The Parkes Phoenix?
Owen Jensen: It’s punchier – being a smaller edition, and it has a good ratio of news stories for each page.
Carol Southwell:It’s informative and free, it’s also very newsworthy. I get it every week.
Anne Norton: It seems like it’s getting bigger every publication. The Phoenix is really getting out and about and publicises what’s going on. It’s good to know what the schools are doing.
James Goonrey: I like it because it focuses on the good things in Parkes. There’s nothing bad, no rubbish, all good local stuff.
Hazel Bateson: I like nearly everything about the Phoenix – I do miss the puzzle page though, I hope they get another sponsor!
Mia, Rhonda, Norma & Bev enjoyed a cuppa at the Red Cross drop in last Friday.
The CanAssist men are the organisation’s most price- less asset as they selflessly give hours of their labour and expertise to collect and repair goods for the garage sales. They are (L-R) Eric Davies, Tom Kearney, Trevor Southwell, Steve Mitchell, Ian Mill, Bernie Crowe, JFK – John Francis Kelly and Jim Jennings. Bob Srictland was absent.
Representatives from local schools gathered for the first 2017 Parkes Junior AECG meeting on Tuesday. At the back (L-R) are Nicayden Greenwood, Katlyn Turnbull, Kyah Turnbull, Jazlyn Greenwood, Harmih Turnbull, Kye Herft and Izaac Handcock. In the middle (L-R) are Angus Johnston, Jake Herring, Bob McEwan and Hope Kealley Smith. In front (L-R) are Makayla Sloane, Lara Bennett, Ella Ward and Sophie Cronin.
The Lachlan Dragonboat members who paddled for the Western Region Rogues team bringing back a silver and bronze from Penrith are (L-R) Beth Thomas, Helen Rowbotham, Claire Davis, Coach Deb Clarke, Warren Edwards, Carmen Stephens and Rochelle Smith. See report on page 12.
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!
What does Australian citizenship mean to you?
Abraham Emamjomeh with his son Farbod and wife Farideh: I am really happy and overwhelmed being an Australian citizen. My wife will also be- come a citizen soon.
Jim Murray pictured with his daughter Lilly, wife Monica and Mayor Ken Keith: I’ve been in Australia for 29 years, so I already feel Australian. Nothing’s changed except now my children can’t tease me about not being a citizen.
Muhammad Akmal, with his wife Ammara, daughter Hareem, and son Muhammad Arham who all became citizens. Their third child, Muhammed Rahim was born in Australia: I have so much respect for the people of Australia. We really enjoy the freedom, equality and multiculturalism of Australian society.
Natalie Madsen rode down to Sydney with Darren to par- ticipate in this year’s Big Ride 4 Parkinsons – she’s been wanting to do it since before they got their bike.
Celebrating citizenship: Jen Day with son Adrian Day, Maribeth Wagner, Felipa Unger and May Smith.
Two long-standing Parkes Shire Council employees re- ceived awards on Tuesday in recognition for the 20 years they have worked for council. (L-R) Parkes Shire Council General Manager Kent Boyd, Toby Huppatz,Tom Ward and Mayor Ken Keith OAM.
Mayor Ken Keith OAM and Shellie Buckle (right) an- nounced the 2017 Jack Scoble Educational Scholarships on Tuesday. Michael James accepted the award on behalf of his daughter Courtney James and Merlin Casey’s scholarship was accepted by his grandfather Mick Casey.