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Parkes Phoenix

Be Seen

October 4, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Aaron Patterson-Miller and Gracie Townsend attended the Parkes M & D production of Les Misérables at the Little Theatre.

 

Alyssa Brown and Carmen Stephens were also at Les Misérables.

 

Mark, Katrina and Dale Allen enjoyed the local production of Les Misérables.

Our Gal – Shiralee Unger

October 4, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

 

Shiralee Unger

 

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I moved to Parkes 31 years ago and attended school at Middleton Primary. I’ve lived at Alectown for 20 years. I love the rural lifestyle and the rural people.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I help my husband John run our property, and I work for Craig Smith at The Dish Cafe and at Country Roads Motel at Peak Hill. I enjoy learning new cooking skills with Craig and I like the satisfaction of my motel job. I also love earning a wage because I don’t make any cash on the property.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Riding my horses and competing in competitions around the state.

What makes you proud? My achievements with my horses. I’ve just returned from winning my class in the Reining Cow Horse competition at Wattamondara.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I would be a horse because they are such majestic animals.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? My all-time favourite movie is The Man from Snowy River. No need to ask why – it’s obvious.

Tell us about your best holiday? Phoenix in Arizona where I rode horses on a ranch owned by Lee and Mark Smith, where I saw what an amazing affinity they have with their horses. The other highlight of this holiday was riding mules in Medina, Texas.

What is on your bucket list? To learn to have the gift with horses that I’ve experienced with Lee in Phoenix and to help others find the same connection.

What was the highlight for you being part of the BushCat Building Team at AirVenture Australia?

September 26, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

William Greenland: Being able to get the plane finished. It was really cool learning about the plane’s engineering. Definitely a great experience!

Ethan Pay: I really enjoyed the past week and gaining all this valuable knowledge that will help me in my future as I have applied to study mechanical engineering.

 

Shaun Stewart: There has been a lot, but I enjoyed the co-operation between the whole team with everyone working together so well. We‘ve done it so quickly. I’ll definitely do this again!

Our Bloke – Aaron Kingham

September 26, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in the Parkes area 40 years, I was born here. My family are very much local and I enjoy the rural setting.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I currently find myself between jobs, but I have had my hands full with Les Misérables! At the moment I’m enjoying playing a larger role being a dad and being available for people in need.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? As a tabletop war games fan, I enjoy gaming, painting and building miniatures whenever I can. I also build, configure and use desktop computers.

What makes you proud? To see a job completed and done well. Also the accomplishments of my family and friends.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? Probably a jaguar. I have always liked the big cats, there’s just something about the grace and strength of them.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? The Lord of the Rings trilogy and books. My brother read The Hobbit to me when I was four, it started a life-long fascination with high fantasy.

Tell us about your best holiday? When I was 17, I went on a youth exchange to Tahiti for five weeks. It was truly magical and I loved it. The culture, food and people were lovely and I would love to go back there someday with my family.

What is on your bucket list? I would love to tour from Syria, through Egypt, Rome and into Europe someday.

OUR Gal -Brenda Hart

September 19, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? For about five years, but grew up in the area. I love that Parkes has so many opportunities for our children to participate in, such as sports, dancing, music, art, and lots more.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work with the Department of Communities and Justice as a Caseworker. I am passionate about child protection and the importance of community involvement.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I like to spend time with my family, slow things down and really enjoy our time together.

What makes you proud? I feel such a sense of pride when I see someone achieve something that they have been working towards or they have been trying hard to make a change or learnsomething new.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? Possibly a cat living the life with a person who loves them. Cats have such personality, they know how to relax and enjoy the sunshine. They are resourceful and fast!

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? I really love “Gone with the Wind”. I like the story of survival, determination and romance. Music from the 80’s is so much fun.

Tell us about your best holiday. My best holidays are ones spent on the coast. To watch and hear the ocean is one of my favourite things to do and where I feel most at ease.

What is on your bucket list? To travel and see parts of the world, and to live on our beautiful coastline.

Our Bloke -Hedley Nicholson

September 12, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I was born in Parkes in 1940 and moved to Goulburn in 1960. I came back for a promotion in 1974 as a train driver where I worked for 47 years. Parkes is like all small towns they are only what you make them yourself.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I retired in 2002. I’ve been a volunteer at Parkes Tennis Club since 1978.

What makes you proud? I am very proud of the tennis club, which I have rebuilt. I have received an OAM for my work at the club.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I don’t have any spare time as I’m busy at the tennis club, men’s shed and car club.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I would like to be a bird so I could fly anywhere I liked.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Any John Wayne movie because he always gets the bad ones!

Tell us about your best holiday. Going caravanning anywhere in this great country.

What is on your bucket list? No bucket list, just enjoying life as it comes.

Our Gal -Rebeckah Auld

September 5, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes  and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in Parkes my whole life, with a few short stints in Newcastle, Geraldton, and Rockhampton. I enjoy living in a regional town, where during tough times, the community comes together to support those in need.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am currently studying a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in Public Relations, through correspondence.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Spending time with my friends and family, taking photographs, baking, playing sport, listening to music. The list could keep going!

What makes you proud? My family. We’ve gone through so much, but have always been there for each other.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I would be a Quokka, as they are one of the happiest animals. Despite its vulnerable status
of extinction, they aren’t scared of humans. Plus, they are great at selfies!

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Right now my list includes: Movie: My Best Friend’s Wedding; Song: Soon You’ll Get Better –
Taylor Swift; Book: The Year of the Farmer by Rosalie Ham.

Tell us about your best holiday. Spending three months travelling around Europe with my Mum in 2012 visiting my eldest sister, Steff. I particularly loved Scotland and Germany!

What is on your bucket list? I would love to go swimming with pigs in the Bahamas! No one is certain of how the pigs first arrived there. When the pigs hear the motors of the boats, they come running out of the forest, across the beach, and into the turquoise waters.

What do you think of the new temporary library in the main street?

September 5, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Margaret Tanner: It’s exciting and very inviting. I’d like to compliment the staff on a job done beautifully, especially the kid’s corner. As a former library teacher and casual working with Bob Thomas, I like the new space.

 

Warwick Tom: It’s beautiful, open and light and very inviting. It is also on the main street which is even better. The staff did a fantastic job relocating here.

 

Sara Trott with Frances (3): It’s great they managed to get something so good. We will definitely use it a lot. We’ve missed the library the past month!

 

What do you enjoy the most at the Parkes Show?

August 29, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Jacob McIntyre (7): The food, especially the dagwood dogs. Ann McIntyre: Spending time with my grandkids. Olivia McIntrye (9): I love the Cha Cha ride.

 

Angie Paguyen with William Doguiles (8 mths): Everything is a great experience as it is my first visit in Australia. Nessa Doguiles: The fireworks! Kerranina (5): The bumper cars. Louie Doguiles: Being out with my family.

 

Back: Aaron and Kelly Halls: The food and the shows. Front: Sienna (5): The jumping castle. Kobey (7): The rides, bungee jump and quad bikes. Brayden (11): The bungee jump.

Our Bloke -John ‘Deano’ Dean

August 29, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I moved to Parkes in October 1979 from Ivanhoe. I enjoy living here as it is friendly and a great place to live.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? Started working at the Parkes Services Club in October 1979 and still work there, l enjoy the customers and the people I work with.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I like to watch movies.

What makes you proud? My family makes me proud.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? A horse, because they are a majestic animal.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Movie: Gone With The Wind as my favourite time in history is the Civil War; Song: Can’t Help Falling In Love (Elvis); Book: Reach For The Sky – a true story about a British World War 2 fighter pilot.

Tell us about your best holiday. I’ve had a few trips to the USA and loved every minute I’ve ever been there, especially the visits to Elvis’s home Graceland.

What is on your bucket list? To live long enough to see the Dragons win another grand final!

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