How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I’ve lived in the Parkes area for almost 60 years. Country towns are such friendly places to live in and I wouldn’t want to go back to city living.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I was a teacher for 33 years and am now retired. I enjoy my garden, playing bridge, reading, doing puzzles and watching TV dramas, British crime and comedy shows.

What makes you proud? I am proud of my three children and how they have achieved success. I’m also proud of former students who’ve done well in their lives.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I think I’d be a giraffe as they are graceful and friendly and are not a threat to other species or to humans.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? My movie would probably be “The Sound of Music” because it’s based on a true story, has singing, humour, history and drama which are all things I enjoy. My favourite books are historical and ‘who dunnit’ novels.

Tell us about your best holiday. My first visit overseas to the USA and Canada with local tour company Harris Travel was great, and also a recent trip to Turkey and Gallipoli to see where my father fought in WW1.

 

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I’ve been in Parkes for three weeks!

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work at the Ikon restaurant, Hotel Graceland as Head Chef. I love the freedom to express my creativity.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I love spending time with my dogs.

What makes you proud? I’m proud that I stand my own ground with integrity.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? I love any movie that’s horror. As for music, I love The Amity Affliction – an Australian band that’s post-hardcore, metalcore.

Tell us about your best holiday. My favourite holiday was going to the Calgary Stampede Rodeo in Canada.

What is on your bucket list? To volunteer at an orphanage.

 

 

Liz Matthews

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I’ve been in Parkes 51 years this year. I think it’s a very pleasant town to live in because of the climate, the geography and the people.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I’m a retired foreign language teacher who worked at Parkes High School teaching French and Japanese among other languages. Nowadays I’m a lady of leisure just taking a short break from my volunteer work at Neighbourhood Central. I feel I’m giving something back to the community – and the people there are good to work with.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? There are very many things to fill my free time. I like to read and to cook. I play golf when I can and I enjoy a glass of wine with friends. In longer periods of spare time I like to travel.

What makes you proud? I don’t think of myself as ‘being proud’ although I do feel I’ve achieved quite a lot in life. My biggest achievement would be contributing to the development of the hundreds of kids I’ve taught and helping them to become good citizens. When I came to Parkes it was a very inward-looking community, but now people can see beyond the hills. I hope I’ve helped broaden their horizons.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I would be a platypus because it’s such an unusual creature – even if it does eat worms…

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? My favourite song is ‘Je ne Regrette Rien’ by Edith Piaf because it is such a defiant statement of resilience.

Tell us about your best holiday. The ten days I spent in the Galapagos Islands because of all the incredible creatures I was able to see and interact with on land and under water.

What is on your bucket list? Although I’ve travelled widely around the world, I haven’t yet been to Uluru, so I’m going to make sure I get there next year.

Warren Blatch

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? Since I started school at Parkes Infants. The best thing in Parkes is my lovely wife Nancye.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I was the middle man in the family business, A A Blatch. I really enjoyed the interaction with the farming community.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Golf and bridge.

What makes you proud? The achievements of my three children.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? A pussy cat because they get cared for.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? ‘Bill the Bastard’ – it’s a great read about a great horse and the Great War.

Tell us about your best holiday. Backpacking through Europe in ’72.

What is on your bucket list? Winning at Las Vegas.

Kate Anderson

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I’ve lived in Parkes since I was four. I love the community spirit.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work for Baptistcare Niola. I love working with the residents and other staff who always have a smile and a story. I also coordinate the Little Acorns Playgroup every Tuesday during school terms, and the St George’s Toy Library every second Monday at the Anglican Church.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I enjoy sewing and attend lessons at the sewing shed.

What makes you proud? My family and friends who are always there for each other.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I’d love to be a cat and sleep all day.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? I don’t have any.

Tell us about your best holiday. We took the kids to the beach and even though it rained the whole time, we still had fun.

What is on your bucket list? I would love to go to Scotland to see where my grandmother’s family came from.

Jenny Jewell

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I am privileged to say I was born in Parkes. My formative years were spent at “Olieview”, Coobang. My schooling at Parkes Public and Parkes High, with Years 11 and 12 boarding at St Catherine’s in Waverley. Then to MCAE at Bathurst for teacher training where I met Don.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I spend most of my days at our business, Greenparkes Garden Centre. I enjoy working with plants and the wonderful customers we have.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Spending time with my adult children and their wonderful children. I am very proud of all of them.

What makes you proud? The thing that makes me most proud apart from my wonderful family, is my membership and current Presidency of the Rotary Club of Parkes. The community work we do for the betterment of local families is ongoing and very rewarding. I am also proud to be associated with major causes world-wide.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? Dogs are my favourite animal since they have the ability to sense people’s moods and needs and are very loyal.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? My favourite movies relate back to my childhood – The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins have a special place in my heart.

Tell us about your best holiday. Our best holiday was the last full-family holiday in Tasmania – too many years ago. Or maybe it was the wonderful cruise Don and I were able to take a year or so ago.

What is on your bucket list? Everything or anything that makes our lives more complete – mostly with family.

 

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I moved to Parkes about 20 years ago. It wasn’t until I got settled here that I became aware of the friendly nature of Parkes residents. My wife, Pam, moved here from Christchurch, New Zealand and she has found Parkes a very friendly place to live too.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I run Glassplace with the help of five other people. The best part of my job is the variety of work we undertake. No two jobs are the same and with the constant upgrades in Australian Standards, we are always on our toes keeping up with changes.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I just love growing vegies. We have 20 vegetable growing beds in our garden and I almost always have something ready for Pam (who is a great cook) to include in our next meal. My other great love is kayaking.

What makes you proud? My wife makes me proud because she gave up her life in New Zealand so we could be together. For her every day is another adventure. I feel proud of my family members and my staff when they achieve a really good result with a new project.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose and why? I would definitely be a dolphin. They can travel the world, go fishing anywhere they like without a licence, go surfing at all the best beaches and take a holiday from it all whenever they feel like it. Have you ever seen an unhappy dolphin?

What is your all time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Mark Knopfler and Graeme Conners are my favourite musicians. They are both great story tellers.

Tell us about your best holiday. About 25 years ago I was made redundant from a job, and had a month before I was due to start my next position. So, it was off to New Zealand and four weeks travelling with no set aims.