Tracie Robertson

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I was born in Parkes and started high school at the Parkes Christian School but moved away soon after. I finished school in Young and worked in Sydney for eight years. I worked for Telecom/Telstra and as Western Region Sales Executive for Business and Government my territory covered the majority of western NSW so I was able to move home to Parkes in 1995.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I knew Telstra would eventually sell my section off so I studied real estate two nights per week and started with Ray White in 1998. I purchased the business in 2006 and expanded in 2011 to open in Forbes and Condobolin. I enjoy being able to promote Parkes first and then property, and especially enjoy meeting new people and sometimes we even get to make property dreams come true.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Gardening and spending time with my friends and family. I also volunteer for Wires and right now I have two tiny wallaby joeys and two wollaroos. I enjoy going to Rotary and spending time with happy and positive people.

What are you really good at? I’m good at studying and have recently completed my masters degree in Business Administration. I am working on more tertiary and work-based studies.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? To make people be kind. With more empathy in the world we could each put ourselves in another’s shoes before making judgement or taking action that might hurt another.

What is your pet hate? Dealing with regret is the absolute worst! My goal is to always consider others and to try my absolute best at all times… then there is very little to regret to deal with.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I came to Parkes in 1984 to take up the position of principal of the TAFE college. One of the best things about Parkes is that we have a highly effective council that is not split into factions or run along party lines.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? Since TAFE days I’ve worked in health and safety, in both training and consulting roles. I retired in July this year, but still do some work when interesting projects come along.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? I am a member of Parkes Rotary and that accounts for most of my spare time. I enjoy doing things around home and having people around for dinner. I also collect fishing equipment. Now I’ve retired I may get to use it a bit more?

What are you really good at? I don’t consider myself really good at anything, but have a go at all sorts of things. At the moment I’m working with some Indigenous folk in Parkes organising an exhibition of Wiradjuri cloaks and headdresses.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? It would be a great thing to undo some of the harm done to our Indigenous folk, and to others that are right now being damaged by war and displacement.

What is your pet hate? I get pretty fired up when information is put out about the environment, especially climate, that is not based on what I judge to be good science. I’d love to climb on board a research vessel to the Antarctic with some influencers that don’t agree that climate change is a thing. It would be fascinating and informative to observe those interactions.

Tell us about your best holiday. I don’t know that I have a “best” holiday to talk about, but I do know that when kids grow up family holidays loom large in their memories.

Ashley Goulthorpe

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I have lived in Parkes for the majority of my life. I love the friendly community and how people support each other.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work at the Pink Orchid Florist and Cafe as a florist. I enjoy working in such a colourful and supportive workplace full of fun people.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? In my spare time I enjoy reading, art and hosting dungeons and dragons campaigns.

What are you really good at? I’ve been told I’m really good at chatting!

If you could have a superpower what would it be? I think freezing time would be incredibly helpful, especially at work during our busy times of the year like Valentines Day!

What is your pet hate? My pet hate is when people are unnecessarily rude or when I’m so busy that my chai latte at work goes cold.

Tell us about your best holiday. My best holiday is yet to come, I’m going on a cruise to the Pacific Islands in January 2019! I’m very excited!

Rodney Ford

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I have lived in Parkes for 36 years. Love Parkes – we have everything we need here. No need to go anywhere else.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am Branch Manager of Coates Hire. I enjoy being able to help customers with equipment for small and large projects.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Riding motorcycles. Spending time with my three kids (all grown now) and new granddaughter Grace.

What are you really good at? Restoring vintage small engines, mainly old Victas.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? Feed all the misplaced and starving people in the world.

What is your pet hate? People who cannot sit on correct speed limit on highways causing other drivers to take too many risks trying to overtake.

Tell us about your best holiday. Tasmania on my bike. I try to go there every year if I can.

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? Eight years. I have enjoyed living the country lifestyle and being a part of the Parkes business community.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? The Railway Hotel. I enjoy the social media and marketing side of the business. Also meeting lots of new people.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? We are usually working on the weekends but in our spare time we like to take our little boy Hart to the park with friends.

What are you really good at? My job.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? Teleportation.

What is your pet hate? When I or someone else sneezes!

Tell us about your best holiday. Bianca and I went to America in 2013 with three friends for two weeks. We got married in Central Park NYC while we were there!