How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in Parkes for 35 years. I grew up on the farm at Yarrabandai. The best thing about Parkes was bringing my family up here. A great environment for all aspects of their lives. The caring community is one of the best.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am retired after 41 years in the electrical industry. I have turned my hobby of lead lighting into a small business – something I enjoy with a passion. I just enjoy doing good work for customers.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? My other time is spent with my grandchildren, working as a volunteer coordinator for Parkes Palliative Care, working with bereaved parents in the Central West and as an Elvis Festival volunteer. I also enjoy water skiing, swimming and driving the old Holden with the retro caravan behind.

What are you really good at? I am really good at getting into mischief with the grandkids! And getting into trouble with their parents (lol).

If you could have a superpower what would it be? If I had a super power, it would be to visit someone very special in heaven.

What is your pet hate? My pet hate is gossip, and how that affects the people involved!

Tell us about your best holiday. I have travelled overseas, but the best holidays were to Wyangala water skiing every January with family and friends – the absolute best times!

Patricia Smith

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I have lived in Parkes all my 68 years. The friendships made and the community spirit is what I most like about it.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am serving my 10th year as a Councillor, and I just love working with different organisations in the community and watching the town prosper and grow.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? I enjoy gardening, reading and watching movies.

What are you really good at? Towing the caravan and being a grandmother.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? Healing sick kids.

What is your pet hate? People using phones in eating places.

Tell us about your best holiday. I have enjoyed many caravan holidays, but my best would be the Indian Pacific to Perth.

Glenn ‘Johno’ Johnstone

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? All my life – 42 years (lol). My friends and family, and the community spirit that Parkes radiates!

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I have just started a new business called Johno’s Hockey Academy coaching hockey athletes of all ages and abilities. I love seeing athletes develop, gain confidence, and achieve their goals. I also operate the Just Hockey Pro Shop. In between, I do contract lawn mowing with Jim Daley of Cutting Edge Lawns.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? I don’t get a lot of spare time, as my wife Cherie and three sons Koby (15), Zanda (11) and Jett (9) all play hockey too. Doing it together is great. I do sneak in a fitness session in my home gym or a quiet beer with mates every now and then.

What are you really good at? Getting the best out of athletes, assisting them to realise their full potential. I also cook great poached eggs!

If you could have a superpower what would it be? Teleport, so I can send myself to places without the travel or waiting.

What is your pet hate? My boys leave the doors open all the time, it drives me crazy.

Tell us about your best holiday. In 2014 my mum and dad shouted my family and my sister’s family flights to America. We were 11 and we first arrived in Los Angeles for Disneyland, Universal Studios, an ice hockey game, a baseball game, Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach. We drove to Las Vegas – an eye opener – and loved Fremont St (old Vegas) and a helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon. In San Francisco we saw Alcatraz, Lombard St, Pier 39
and crossed the Golden Gate Bridge in an open-top bus. The best part was doing it as a family, so many great memories.

Louise O’Leary

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I was born (1963), schooled and worked in Parkes, then relocated up the road to Peak Hill and married local Danny O’Leary. The Parkes Shire is an amazing place to live, work and play and is a wonderful place to grow a family and grow old (Hi Mum!).

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work full-time as an Enrolled Nurse in Primary and Community Health at Peak Hill Multipurpose Service (MPS). I do activities from wounds to palliative care, aqua aerobics, tai chi and other health related activities. My ‘other job’ as an elected Councillor is squeezed in between – both jobs allow me to work with the Peak Hill and Shire communities, promote healthy lifestyles and be an advocate and a voice for others.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Spare time? Not sure what it means, but I love gardening and play hockey with Middleton Hockey Club.

What are you really good at? Talking, healing wounds, talking, jigsaw puzzles.. did I mention talking?

If you could have a superpower what would it be? To freeze time – then I would have more time to fit in gardening, hockey and spend more time with my grandson Milo.

What is your pet hate? People who have no respect for others by speeding, littering and those who think themselves above the law.

Tell us about your best holiday. My first overseas trip to attend a best friend’s wedding in Switzerland and spent three weeks touring and living as a local – a fantastic country, friendly people and amazing chocolate.

Kevin Powell

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I met a Parkes gal in Darwin, we married, had twins and moved here almost six years ago. I like that even the heat waves here are still cooler than tropical summers.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I run a ‘flourishing’ garden /lawn mowing business. I like the reward of money for my labour (obviously), but I love the connection with local folks. “Always time for a cuppa” is my motto – which lets me taste scones, great scones… and hear wonderful stories and get to share my own.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? I meet the arvo school bus every day, so have plenty of time for growing veggies and breeding budgies and chooks. Kev’s Pasture Range Eggs has become a passion, family time at the Pink Orchid, catching up with mates for a beer, attending the girls’ soccer games and meeting at church on Sundays. Life is full.

What are you really good at? Telling stories. Hearing God’s voice, doing what He says makes the GREATEST stories, so I’ve found out.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? Zip the lip. It sometimes requires a super power to stop foolish talk. I know too well.

What is your pet hate? A pet dislike (hate is a powerful word) is littering – “out of site out of mind” littering.

Tell us about your best holiday. Getting paid to travel Australia for two years in 1993/94. What a top country!