How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I was born in Parkes and have been fortunate to live here for the past 26 years. Parkes has many great facilities, friendly people and endless prospects. The serenity of country living is second to none!
Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work at Parkes Shire Council as a management accountant. On weekends I assist in our family business at Parkes News & Gifts. The opportunity to work with a great team at council whilst undertaking a diverse range of tasks makes me enjoy coming to work each day.
What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I enjoy playing sport and socialising with friends. I also have a passion for running and hope to achieve my goal of finishing a half-marathon by the end of this year.
What makes you proud? I’m always proud to be an Australian. Australia is a place where compassion, courage and resilience are always displayed. There are endless opportunities, freedom of speech, quality education and health systems. I always feel privileged to live in this great country!
If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? The ability to be a bird, flying high with breath-taking views and watching over the land.
What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? As a massive sports fan, ‘Blind Side’ is my favourite movie.
Tell us about your best holiday. Travelling across Europe and UK in 2018 was an unforgettable experience.
What is on your bucket list? My next item is to travel to New Zealand once travel restrictions are lifted and to conquer some of the amazing adventure activities in Queenstown.
Dorothea Tom OAM: Out on the farm life went on as usual pretty much, but I did a lot more cooking and reading. I love reading and as the library was closed, I got into all the books I haven’t read for 30 years!
Bruce Prior: I kept on doing my two shifts per week on Valley FM, and ‘the bride’ and I did a lot of behind the scenes work at the Henry Parkes Historical Museum. It was a different kind of trip, as we will not be pulling the caravan out this year.
Rosemary Prior: I spent most of my time at the Henry Parkes Historical Museum where we had lots of archived ‘Pandora’s boxes’ to be opened and sorted. We found some amazing treasures, including a beautifully preserved sheep skin vest worn by a digger in World War I. This will soon go on display.
Geoff Anderson: The current events in the USA are driven by separation and degradation of knowledge of people’s culture and a loss of cultural understanding of where people are from. This has led to many years of tension festering to a point of this eruption. Here in Parkes we teach our students the history of Australia and around Parkes. The students understand the history and whether they are Aboriginal or not they all understand and respect the land and the culture. By teaching language and culture, you’re teaching respect.
Sean James Cassidy: Help each other and acknowledge the past – the bad and the good.
Helen Huntly: I have a studio at the back of my house. I found when I really worked at making time for myself, I lost track of time and got into that lovely place of creating, which is a place of comfort and peace.
Annette Witherow: I really missed our weekly Parkes Painters gatherings, as that is what inspires me to pick up my paint brushes. We also missed out on our annual exhibition to put our work on show. So, I’ve not been painting much at all, but I did spend a lot of time in my garden.
Margaret Marshall: It did 100%! I completed six paintings. I have really enjoyed total isolation as I could spend time on my art every day without any interruptions. I was able to give it my full concentration and enjoy doing it guilt free.
Evie Brown (Kindy): I enjoyed doing the dance moves for the number counting song and showing my mum my work. I missed my teachers Mrs Harrison, Mrs Melhuish and Mrs Richards.
Ally Francis (Year 12): The benefits were being able to do things on my own timetable and not having to wear a uniform. It was hard not having one on one teaching, being able to ask questions and receive answers straight away and not seeing friends.
