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Question of the Week?

February 1, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

What did it feel like to participate in the Queen’s Baton Relay as a batonbearer?

Darrin Gibson: I was born in Parkes and moved back about eight years ago after a personal tragedy and the community has rallied around me ever since. It was fantastic to be honoured in this way. It was also amazing to have been part of the team that will be taking the baton from start to finish.

Barbara Weaver: It was a real honour. There were lots of people cheering me on, my family came from Orange and Peak Hill with my grandkids. It was very special – the whole procession with the vehicles and people. It was a really big deal. And the spirit of all the batonbearers was great – we cheered each other on and off the bus and we showed so much empathy for each other.

Nicayden Greenwood: It was an honour and a very special day I will never forget. As an Aboriginal person it was more special as I got to do the lap at Bushman Hill Reserve where there were some dancers, and then handed the baton to my grandfather.

Our Bloke – Mark Olson

January 24, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Mark Olson

How long have you lived in Parkes?
30 years

Where do you work and what do you enjoy about your work?
Matthews Williams Solicitors. I enjoy helping people and solving their problems.

What do you do in your spare time after work and over weekends?
Gardening (if it is not too hot) and eating good food, particularly big breakfast on a Saturday morning!

What are you really good at?
Having a snooze at lunch time before going back to work.

If you could have a super power what would it be?
Create a genie who would grant three wishes every day.

What is your pet hate?
Making beds.

Tell us about your best holiday ever?
Visiting our son in England last year. Driving a steam train on the Isle of Wight, travelling around Europe (particularly visiting Sweden), and enjoying wonderful food and drink (especially good Scotch whisky) whilst looking at great sites.

Question of the Week?

January 24, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

What does it mean to you to be a baton bearer in the Queen’s Baton Relay?

Rebeckah Auld: It is a great privilege and honour to do this for my local community. I was nominated by my sister and together we raise about $6,000 per year for CanTeen by hosting tea parties. I will be carrying the baton for my mum who has cancer and for CanTeen, who is supporting me through all of this.

Michael Greenwood (with grandson Riley Winter): Is it nice to be representing Parkes to showcase what a wonderfully resilient community we are. I am proud to be doing it with my grandson Micayden Greenwood – we might be the only grandfather-grandson pair in the whole relay.

Frances Dixon: It is a great honour as I am a Royalist. My family nominated me and they could not have chosen a prouder Parkesite as I will be doing it for my family and my community. It is my dad’s birthday on the day of the relay, and two days later my brother’s we lost. I am very excited about it.

Our Gal – Lorraine Job

January 18, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Lorraine Job

How long have you lived in Parkes and why do you like living here? I have lived in Parkes for nearly 51 years. I like the quiet country lifestyle and the friendliness, support and security that living in Parkes allows.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy about your work? Self-employed cleaning contractor. There is really a great deal of satisfaction in restoring order and cleanliness to grime and chaos. I enjoy the end result not the process.

What are you really good at? When given a job to do I try to do my best to work diligently and tirelessly to follow it through to completion. All throughout my life I have been taught by the people that mattered to care for others and to take responsibility seriously, no matter the task.

If you could have a super power what would it be? To have the ability to never ever allow a child anywhere in the world to suffer from serious illness, ill treatment, hunger or displacement. Children are a gift to cherish.

What is your pet hate? ‘Hate’ is a word I try not to use but I do get ‘frustrated’ when my time is wasted. Time is precious and can be easily taken for granted. Time once spent cannot be returned and the older I get the more I appreciate and value each and every minute.

Tell us about your best holiday ever?
My husband and I toured Canada, USA and Alaska in mid-2017 with friends. It was as scenic and wonderfully beautiful as the brochures said. New York, New York, fabulous!

Question of the Week?

January 10, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

What do you like about the Parkes Elvis Festival?

Glen Voss from Little Bay, Sydney: I am back for the 14th time! I love the people, the friendliness of everyone – there is no trouble here. Everyone is so supportive. It is a real feel good festival.

Sue Kinsela from Buderim on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland: It is my seventh festival. I grew up in Parkes and love coming back for the music, seeing all the different outfits and that everybody gets involved. We go to a lot of festivals and this is definitely one of the best.

Rick Gattenhof from Melbourne: I have only missed one festival so this is my 25th one! I love the music, the good atmosphere and that people come here for a good time. We’ve made good friends in Parkes and it feels like a family reunion every year. I’ve decided to do some busking this year, after doing many years of behind the scenes work. I do a free concert at the Rosedurnate Old Age Home every year.

Tina Spear from Cairns: It is my first time. We are a group of five caravans on our way to the Tamworth Country Music Festival and decided to do Parkes first. I am looking forward to the parade and all the entertainers. We have all bought Rock ‘n Roll dresses.

Rupert (the) King from Auckland, New Zealand: I am back for my second time to perform in The Ultimates and do some busking. I’ve been singing country music for 47 years. I love coming as Elvis nostalgia is big here, it is intoxicating as people’s love of Elvis is so obvious. I love it that everyone dresses up.

Melissa Richardson and her daughter Madeline from Bridgewater, Victoria and her sisters Arena Krauzowicz and Lynette Harper from Geelong: It is our first time here and we are very excited. Everyone knows about this festival and we are looking forward to the whole experience.

Our Bloke – Al (Alvis) Gersbach

January 10, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and why do you like living here? Since 1984, top place to live and we have the Elvis Festival!

Where do you work and what do you enjoy about your work? Parkes Shire Council grader operator. I like the outdoors, so what’s better than being in the middle of nowhere most of the week, plus I am one of the local Elvis blokes. (Al is Parkes’ Elvis on Call.)

What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? Just retired from playing competition rugby this year so now it’s an open book for things to do. Still working on that one. Probably take some singing lessons would be a good start.

What are you really good at? Not sure but you just give it your best shot regardless and enjoy life.

If you could have a super power what would it be? Flying would be great but could be dangerous in an Elvis Jumpsuit…

Tell us about your best holiday ever?
Representing Australia at the Touch Football World Cup in Edinburgh, Scotland as a team manager, plus having my wife and children joining me there and touring around Europe afterwards.

Our Gal – Dianne Scott

December 21, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Dianne Scott

How long have you lived in Parkes and why do you like living here? I have lived in Parkes for most of my life after spending my childhood in Trundle. Parkes is a friendly town with a laidback lifestyle.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy about your work? I work at Neighbourhood Central. Our team provides a variety of services from birth right through to the elderly, and although most of my work is behind the scenes (lots of red-tape!), I enjoy knowing that my efforts, along with the wonderful staff and volunteers, are making such a positive difference in so many people’s lives.

What are you really good at? Using Google!

If you could have a super power what would it be? If there was a healing superpower, then that would be it! I hate seeing people suffer.

What is your pet hate? There are many, but there’s nothing worse than hearing people sniff!

Tell us about your best holiday ever?
I have been very fortunate to have travelled to some amazing destinations within Australia and around the world. I absolutely love it! One of my favourite places is Prague in the Czech Republic for its fairytale old-town and architecture.

Question of the Week?

December 20, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

What do you think Santa is going to bring for you this Christmas?

Rhiylee Gavin-Lewis (4), Oliver Hughes (3) and Gemma Orr (3):
Rhiylee: I wish for a Barbie doll and a toy horse.
Oliver: I want some Lego.
Gemma: A unicorn and a horse.

Benjamin Anderson (4): I want some roller skates and a Monster High doll.

Lucy Squires (4): I would like to get a trampoline.

Question of the Week?

December 14, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

What do you think Santa is going to bring for you this Christmas?

Hartlee Trotman (4) and Piper Moore (4):
Hartlee: A Mermaid Barbie and a real pony.
Piper: I would like a doll.

Ava Redfern (4) and Amelia Layton (4):
Ava: I asked Boomerang, our Elf on the Shelf, for a Jack-in-the-Box!
Amelia: A baby doll with a milk bottle and a bath. I am going to call her Rosie.

Isabella Wood (5) ad Sophie Fahey (4):
Isabella: I want a Mermaid Barbie and her name is going to be Haley.
Sophie: I want a trampoline and a Mermaid Barbie called Ruby.

Our Bloke – Barry Garment

December 14, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Barry Garment

How long have you lived in Parkes and why do you like living here? I’ve been in Parkes since 1980. I enjoy the friendly and helpful people and the relaxed lifestyle that the open spaces of the Central West allow.

Where do you work and what do you enjoy about your work? I retired in 2000 after 43 years with the DMR/RTA, 35 of which I also served in the Australian Army Reserve. Since then, teaching scripture as a volunteer to the three public primary schools has been my most rewarding ‘occupation’.

What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? I’m passionate about old cars, and have three vintage vehicles which keep me out from under my wife, Norma’s feet. I’m also Secretary of the Parkes Antique Motor Club, and the wide range of the club’s activities provide rewarding experiences.

What are you really good at? Trying to get things right at a second attempt. Sometimes things I do don’t go quite to plan, and I have to rethink and try again.

If you could have a super power what would it be? That people would be so considerate of others that we’d not need any police forces or armies.

What is your pet hate? Trying to apportion blame whenever anything goes wrong. We need to acknowledge that sometimes people make honest mistakes, and generally don’t deliberately set out to hurt others.

Tell us about your best holiday ever?
A trip to the northern Queensland coastal area, revisiting places we first saw on our honeymoon. Whilst there had been some changes, most of the natural beauty was as we remembered.

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