Our Community Archives - Page 59 of 108

What do you think of the new look Parkes Library?

October 16, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Pictured L-R: Sarah Knowling, Leah Knowling and Rebekah Knowling.

Sarah Knowling (8): It looks really nice and smells good too. There are lots of nice areas to play inside and outside. My favourite place is the seat in the wall where you can sit down.

Leah Knowling: It is very inviting and has a lot more space where different groups can sit and read, study or meet. They’ve done a fabulous job – to be able to reimagine the space and make something that seems so much bigger, while keeping more or less the same footprint. The space has been utilised so well. I really like it with all the little nooks.

Rebekah Knowling (11): It’s awesome! I am just flabbergasted and if I was a little girl I would’ve fallen on my back and looked at everything. I like the outside area, the big screen TV. I like everything. It smells like a new place too.

Be Seen

October 16, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Rebecca Warren came to the first story time in the newly opened Parkes Library on Wednesday with Tom and Claire.

Family Day Carer Joanne Thomson brought Jayden (left), Raine and Lorde on her lap and Alfie to story time.

Special guest reader at story time on Wednesday was Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton with story time presenter Emma Brown.

Our Bloke – David Bicket

October 16, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes? Basically all of my life so far.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? Self-employed public accountant. I also own a farm with my brother. Helping my clients through the complex environment that we are facing does derive a deal of satisfaction. All days provide a great deal of variety.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Travel, very much enjoy walking, driving and flying.

What makes you proud? My family. They are fun to spend time with.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? A falcon. Majestic, they display speed and effortlessness in the way that they fly.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Jason Bourne movies, the storylines are interesting and the action is unrelenting. Music: Nightwish, Evanescence and Rammstein. I have seen Evanescence and would love to see Nightwish and Rammstein in concert.

Tell us about your best holiday. Went with my family for three weeks to Canada for a driving holiday through British Columbia and Alberta. The scenery and wildlife were very impressive, many bears.

What is on your bucket list? To travel more, although it may be a while before going overseas is possible.

Be Seen

October 9, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Artist Cheree Stokes (middle) at the opening of her new gallery in Trundle last week with friends Daisy and Doug.

At the opening of the Dr David Malin Astrophotography exhibition at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory’s Visitors Centre were (l-r) Philippa Malin, Dr David Malin, Cr Neil Westcott and Jessica Westcott.

Mal Westcott at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with the coach of the German soccer team and one of the players. At the celebration of their bronze medal, they got Mal to wear a medal, as he was their favourite bus driver at the games.

The Parkes Elvis Festival might be cancelled for next year, but this Elvis has made Parkes his new permanent home on the street art wall at Cooke Park.

Our Gal – Margaret Robinson

October 9, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived here for a long time – all my life!

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? Parkes Forbes Community Housing where I am CEO, I own Parkes Décor Shoppe and also run Rosegarden, which is 5 star executive accommodation.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Travel and explore, and go to Queensland and play golf.

What makes you proud? See my housing tenants get a property and sustain a tenancy, and helping others.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Pretty Woman and Ghost, which was funny. I love Whoopi Goldberg in this movie.

Tell us about your best holiday. Lots of fun holidays, but a standout would be South America – hiking Macchu Pichu.

What is on your bucket list? Just to relax and be happy.

Our Bloke – Duncan Clement

October 2, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? On and off since 1969. I moved back about seven years ago. I like the friendly people and fairly laid-back atmosphere.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I’m a mechanic at Parkes Toyota. I get enjoyment out of the variety of work and working with good people.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Watching videos and reading books on science fiction.

What makes you proud? Parkes Shire Concert Band achieving awards.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? An eagle, because I reckon they’re king of the skies.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It is humorous and touches on many idiosyncrasies of the human race.

Tell us about your best holiday. Family holiday to central Australia.

What is on your bucket list? To go to Scotland to catch up with family there.

What do you think of the cancellation of the 2021 Parkes Elvis Festival?

October 2, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Doreen Nash (91 years): I am very disappointed, but it is the right thing to do because of COVID. Luckily I have many wonderful memories as I have attended every festival from the very first inaugural dinner that Bob and Anne Steele held at their Gracelands restaurant. In the beginning everyone laughed at such a silly idea to have an Elvis Festival in a town like Parkes and said it would be an embarrassment. The things I loved most about the festivals have been the street parade, the Cooke Park festivities and most of all the Elvis shows at the Parkes Leagues Club and Parkes Services Club. My favourite Elvis has been Mark Andrew Tabone. I also attended the early gospel services in the Big W undercover carpark with my late husband Stewart Nash. These services also grew in popularity and had to be moved to Cooke Park.

What is your best memory of the 2000 Sydney Olympics?

September 25, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Christian Martin (left) with his grandmother Jean Wright and brother Dane at the Olympic Games: I was 14 years old and went with my family to the rowing and the water polo. The excitement and energy I felt being at such a unique sporting event with people from all around the world cheering their respective countries was just the best.

Bob and Bev Bokyar: The friendliness of the people – everyone was talking to everyone on public transport and everywhere. The atmosphere was just electric. The cheering of the crowd and Mexican wave in the stadium when Australian Louise Sauvage won her gold medal in the wheelchair event at the Paralympics is something we’ll never forget. We felt a lot of pride being there. We just looked around in amazement at everything. We saw hockey, the end of the marathon, tennis, various Paralympic events and the closing ceremony.

Our Gal – Ana Mill

September 25, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? We moved here in 2007 from Sydney when my husband started work at Northparkes mines. I like it here because it’s peaceful like the islands and people are nice.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work at Redbend Catholic College in the kitchen, cooking and feeding the students and boarders.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I like doing my volunteer baking for the farmers and frontline workers fighting the COVID pandemic.

What makes you proud? My son and daughter make me proud because they are doing well and have careers and are nice children.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I would like to be a bird and fly because we can’t fly anywhere with COVID-19.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Movie: Sound of Music. I like the story and the music; Song: Unforgettable by Nat King Cole, it reminds me of growing up in Tonga, my parents used to play it a lot; Book: Any Patricia Cornwell book.

Tell us about your best holiday. Mauritius, because the hotels are beautiful and it reminds me of Fiji but it is prettier.

What is on your bucket list? Go to England and see Buckingham Palace and meet the Queen! Europe to see my penpal in Sweden whom I’ve been writing to since she came to Tonga when she was 15.

Our Bloke – Tim Keith

September 18, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in Parkes all my life, except for six years at Yanco Agricultural High School. I enjoy the community spirit and great friendships made in the town.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? After leaving school I worked the family farm with my father, at which time I gained my wool classing certificate. I leased my farm some years ago. I now class around the district and help my brother Ken when he needs a hand. What I like most is working with a great team where we all get along and enjoy each other’s company.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I have always enjoyed running, having completed 25 City2Surfs. I also enjoy being involved with the community through groups such as Action Club, PA & H Association, Coradgery Picnic Races, Australia Day committee, Ma- sonic Lodge. Of course, being Town Crier for the last 24 years has been lots of fun and I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of great people.

What makes you proud? My two daughters. Both girls have grown into fine young ladies with great husbands, giving me four grandchildren and we all enjoy spending time together whenever we can.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? A hard one, but I think an eagle. Very few predators and being able to soar over the countryside would be fantastic.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Movie: The Sting, with Paul Newman and Robert Redford; Song: anything from the Beatles or Cat Stevens; Book: any Alistair MacLean or Dan Brown book.

Tell us about your best holiday. A three-week Contiki trip through Europe in 1981 with Heather, my first wife. We were part of a small group, had a great tour guide, and with six nationalities, we all got on really well, with lots of sight-seeing.

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