Emma Brown: Every year my kids fill up shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. It teaches them to think of others and how privileged they are to live in Australia. Otherwise we share the Christmas cheer with anyone and everyone. It is important to be kind all year long, but after this year it is especially important to look out for people over Christmas.
Debbie Gould: I enjoy being kind, and giving from my heart – not for the accolades and therefore prefer to keep it private and a secret. Things I would be doing include cooking for others, donating to charities like food and toys, supporting Christmas appeals, and buying ‘gifts’ for people in third world countries, like supporting kids to go to school, or helping them to own a goat. I also support Share the Dignity drive every year.
Marty Sammut-Paul (Regional Business Supplies): THINK LOCAL FIRST! Thinking local first and buying local supports Parkes businesses who can then invest in the community by employing local people and giving to community and sporting events through donations and sponsorship.
Chad Hamood (Griffins Leading Edge): Have confidence in your local stores to have stock! When you shop locally you see exactly what you get and you get it the same day! Under the current circumstances you are not guaranteed to get what you buy online, and delivery takes much longer.
Elissa Gillingham (Parkes Décor Shoppe): Support the local businesses who support your sporting teams. People are always asking for donations, but prefer shopping online.
Tracy Adams with Sophie (almost 5): Oh yes, we recycle all the time and everything we possibly can, including collecting bottles and cans to take to Return and Earn. We’ve got my mum into recycling as well, and she is excited about getting 10c for bottles. I am also trying to re-use items like refilling the fabric softener bottle, and repurpose items to make a fairy garden or other projects.
Tiffany Tonkin: Yes, we recycle at home, and ensure to put everything we can into the yellow bin. We also repurpose old clothes by either taking it to Vinnies, or using it for rags or other purposes around the house. I also make sure to buy ceramic pots for my plants that I can re-use, and I keep all the plastic pots to use them again. I have to admit we are hopeless at using the green bin at the moment and I would really like us to start recycling our food scraps.
Dr Stan Grant (snr): It is hard to explain, it means so much. To see our people recognised like this today, makes me so proud. This is my country (I grew up in Dubbo), and the recognition of our long history, culture and our people… it is really big.
Stacy Mader: It is about the acknowledgement of the traditional people of this area, as well as their knowledge of astronomy and to incorporate it into science in Australia.
Ralph Naden OAM: It makes me feel very proud and I hope that everyone will call The Dish by its new name of Murriyang, just like everyone adopted Uluru as the new name for Ayers Rock.