Our Community Archives - Page 47 of 108

Do you have a favourite hobby and why do you like it?

October 8, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Norma Garment: I’m torn between golf and crocheting as they both make me feel I’m achieving something, and I gain a lot from the social side of both being able to mix with people and having a good chat.

Frances Thornton: I enjoy scrapbooking and card making, crocheting and photography. It not only fills in time and keeps me awake, but I also enjoy making items for Ronald McDonald House.

Daphne Tindall: I like knitting and gardening. I enjoy being outside getting my hands in the dirt, and I knit every night. It helps a lot to relieve stress.

Our Gal – Kelly Lacey

October 8, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Kelly Lacey

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I was born in Parkes and have lived here my whole life. The best thing about living here is family and friends, and the many great people I’ve met over the years.

What is your favourite thing about your working life? I am a volunteer. I am licenced to rescue and rehabilitate sick, injured and orphaned animals. It can be very demanding and heartbreaking at times, but to save lives and being able to release animals back to their home is my favourite thing.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? The Hinterland of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. It is quiet, beautiful, near Australis Zoo Wildlife Hospital and the beach.

What makes you laugh the most? Road trips with friends.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Turn off my phone, not worry about a thing and spend time away with my husband and kids.

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why? I would go back to any Christmas day at my grandparents when my Nanna would cook an amazing hot lunch for everyone, no matter if it was 40 degrees. Being with my whole family were happy years I will never forget.

If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce? Much stricter laws for land clearing and habitat destruction.

Do you believe in random acts of kindness and which is your favourite one? Yes, my favourite is the simple everyday things, like holding a door open for someone, letting someone go before you in a queue, or checking on your elderly neighbour.

What is one thing you will never do again? Driving up Mount Hotham in Victoria in heavy snow conditions, fog and wind.

Be Seen

October 1, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Roslyn Tayler, Lorraine Maxwell and Marg Klein.

Sylvia Glendenning, Bernadette Boneham and Betty Huntly.

The CanAssist volunteers did not stop smiling on Tuesday as they served the strings of clients who poured in through the door of their new shop in Court Street. Here are Daphne Tindall, Colleen Mitchell and Pat Byrne.

What do you think of the new CanAssist shop?

October 1, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Anne Huggins: It is wonderful! It is now so easy to come for a shop as the showground was more out of the way. You are always sure to get a good bargain here. I’ll definitely be a regular. CanAssist helped me and shopping here is my way of helping them.

Chris Gandi: It’s good! We used to be regulars at the showgrounds and have been anxiously waiting for them to open up again. It is wonderful that it is now right in the middle of town. We are very happy to be back today, and I think they will attract a lot of new clients.

Ainsley Went: It’s amazing. It gives people more of an opportunity to look around with its bigger setup and nice layout.

Our Bloke – Sean James Cassidy

October 1, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I was born in Parkes, and went to school here and in Forbes. I moved away to study at several art colleges and worked abroad. I like bringing back what I’ve learnt to undertake art projects in the shire.

What is your favourite thing about your working life? I have always loved art, I have always wanted to do art. I am proud to have followed my passion. I have achieved a lot of my dreams. I’m lucky to feel resolved.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? I would love to live in Boho, Northern Ireland where my great, great, great grandfather Thomas was sentenced to death, and later commuted to life transportation to the colony of NSW.

What makes you laugh the most? My nephews and my niece Arlo, Emrys and Tully Cassidy. They have answers for everything.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Learn to play bass guitar adequately in 24 hours!

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why? Parkes 1983. Music and films were better. The analogue years were as fun as they were simple, and there were more horses on the streets, ridden, and driven. I loved the sound of hoofbeats on the bitumen.

If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce? Mandatory injection of the arts.

Do you believe in random acts of kindness and which is your favourite one? I believe nature will always create persons scattered throughout a community who have the ability to understand the experiences and feelings of others outside of their own perspective. The acts I love are the ones that need no audience, no ticks to names, no getting into publications, just help when your neighbour is not at their best.

What is one thing you will never do again? Run fast, my knees are done.

Our Gal – Sherree Rosser

September 24, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? My family relocated from Lithgow to Parkes in October 1989 when the hay fever season was at its peak and a mini tornado caused considerable damage close to the CBD.

What is your favourite thing about your working life? Wow! So many favourite things as a teacher of young children! Being told by a 5 or 6-year-old their latest joke, family adventure, what they’d like to be when they grow up, displaying their most recently learned ball skill or gymnastic trick or just a huge smile and hug made every day special.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Being of an Italian background, I’d like to have an extended holiday along the Amalfi Coast, but would always want to return to my family and friends.

What makes you laugh the most? Kids always make me laugh with their honesty, innocence and excitement in sharing anything and everything.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Relaxing and walking along the beach sounds like fun, exploring the rock pools, collecting shells, listening to the waves and smelling the fresh air.

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why? I would like to go back to 1970 when I was completing my teacher training to allow myself more time at becoming more proficient at playing the piano and trumpet.

If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce? Not sure that I’d want more rules!!

Do you believe in random acts of kindness and which is your favourite one? Random acts of kindness enhance the wellbeing of both the giver ad the receiver. So, get out there each day and show kindness in some small way.

What is one thing you will never do again? I will never go caving again, besides being too old, I’d not want to be cold, wet and exhausted and have to drag myself to the exit point in a wetsuit and gumboots.

What have you enjoyed doing since the lifting of the lockdown in Parkes?

September 24, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Bella Nelson: I immediately texted my friends to arrange to meet up with them – I missed that so much.

Chloe Gibson: Hanging out with my friends, having a sleepover and just being able to go everywhere like getting an ice cream, and watching movies with my friends.

Tori Gibson: It is so great to be able to do things like going shopping and getting ice cream with friends. I also like doing nails and I’m able to do my friends’ nails again and drive around town with my sister and friends listening to music in the car.

Why did you want to get vaccinated?

September 17, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Alex Warren: For my family and community. I’m sick of this lockdown and everyone needs to do their part.

Gemma Bradbury: To protect my family and community. I thought it was the right thing to do. Getting vaccinated was a very smooth, easy and efficient process.

Patrick Jones and Jason Lowe:
Patrick: To get the state back up and be able to go on holidays and travel.
Jason: I just want to go back to the pub and see friends again.

Erin Freeman: Mainly to protect myself, my family and the people I love. It was an easy decision for me, and the process what pretty good, quick and easy for the second jab.

Zayne Ehsman: My parents made me do it, and I want to go out again and play footy – what I miss the most during lockdown.

Rhiannon White: To help protect vulnerable people, especially my in-laws, and to hopefully come out of lockdown. I really miss seeing my family and friends.

Emma Gardener: To not only protect myself, but also my family and the Parkes community. Lock-down is having a large effect on our community and the way back to normality is to get vaccinated.

Our Bloke – Rex Veal

September 17, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I was sent to Bogan Gate Army camp in 1964. I was not impressed, but I grew to love the Parkes area and stayed here. Parkes is a caring community with good people and lots of organisations that I am part of.

What is your favourite thing about your working life? I am retired. In my working life I invented things like the wheat sweeping machine at GrainCorp and the escape door on dangerous goods containers at Trans Tank.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Parkes.

What makes you laugh the most? British comedy.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Go to The Goodwood Revival Vintage, Classic Car Day in England.

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why? I would like to have dinner with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford And Benjamin Franklin to see what these great inventors thought.

If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce? Politicians would have to pass a test for compassion.

Do you believe in random acts of kindness and which is your favourite one? Yes, when I was a young lad, I crashed my car and an old couple drove me home, 100km out of their way.

What is one thing you will never do again? Getting married.

What has been your biggest challenge in preparing for your Year 12 exam under lockdown?

September 10, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Josh Winter: The biggest challenge for me is not having verbal interaction with my teachers, although Zoom calls do help a lot as you can talk to them online. I found that by keeping up with all my schoolwork it helps me under lockdown because it reduces all the stress that I am under. I hope things get under control with COVID for next year for the Year 11s when they prepare for their HSC in a better way than what we had to go through this year.

Anouk Labuschagne: Unfortunately, COVID brought on so many challenges to overcome. For example, online trial exams, Zoom meetings and the constantly changing HSC date, but the biggest one was and still remains to be, procrastination. It took a state-wide lockdown for me to realise that my school’s strict phone policy existed for a reason. Technology is the greatest cultivator of procrastination – why should I study for the HSC when I can just surf the web? But a mindset like that doesn’t produce good results and I knew I had to make a change. Just because I am at home doesn’t mean that school simply disappears. I decided to recreate a school structure, no phones from 9am to 3pm, stick to my timetable and only take breaks that I would’ve had if I was at school. I feel my preparation for the HSC has greatly benefited from this mindset!

Jorja Mann: Preparing for Year 12 HSC exams is daunting enough without COVID, so lockdown and online learning have added to the pile of stress. I have always been very motivated and determined to achieve good marks. However, after completing our trial HSC exams online and being informed that our final HSC has been delayed until November, I am starting to become very resentful towards the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), as well as our premier, who are pushing for these exams to go ahead. Like many other Year 12 students, completing my final weeks of Year 12 in my bedroom and not being able to connect face to face with teachers and friends, has posed an enormous challenge to my motivation and mental health. Some mornings I am tempted to stay in bed and not attend any classes at all, or I am too distracted by my phone and social media to remain concentrated. I have started to adopt a negative mentality and attitude of ‘who cares’ and ‘it’s not going to matter’, which is not usually something I would say. Therefore, my biggest challenge has been maintaining my motivation. Whilst I’ve been making an effort to wake up early to attend all five periods every day and sticking to a routine, I do not feel like I am preparing for the HSC. I hope my assessment marks and trial HSC result will be enough to gain me acceptance into university. Whilst it does not seem possible at the moment, I hope that sometime next term my friends and I will be able to have a graduation ceremony to celebrate our 13 years of schooling.

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