If you could introduce a new subject to school, what would it be?

Phoebe Potts: Some kind of Outback survival course to teach students basic survival skills you would need in an emergency, like starting a fire and reading a compass.

Becky Wright: First Aid is very important. We all know to call 000, but not many know what to do after the call was made. You could save someone’s life if you have those skills.

Ethan Pay: I would like to see a subject in engineering and design as an introduction to all different types of engineering and explaining engineering processes, how products are designed and advancements in technology.

What are your thoughts on commencing the 2019 school year?

Virginia Rice (Holy Family Primary School): The new school year is a chance to set new goals for ourselves and our students. It’s an opportunity for new experiences, new friendships, new knowledge and new skills for all of us – approach each day with a flexible and accepting mind.

Helen Standen (Middleton Primary School): Always fired up to start a new year in the library at Middleton Public School. I have the dream job, I love to read books to students and watch their faces and reactions. I especially love term 1 when we get to be creative with our Waste 2 Art masterpiece. Looking forward to seeing all the kids, hearing holiday tales, finding out what class they are in for 2019 and meeting our new kindergarten kids. Exciting times ahead.

Jay Quince (Parkes Christian School): “2019 begins as a year full of possibilities for all, and opportunities for students to discover the joys of learning and living a life full of promise and hope.”

What’s your favourite way of keeping cool this summer?

Bobby Taylor with Kiesha and Sasha: We love playing on the slip and slide and sitting in the pool. Another favourite for the kids is having the sprinkler set under the trampoline.

Frances Scurfield (middle) with Nacho and Delfina Figueroa: My favourite way to cool down is hanging around Gold Coast beach in summer with Argentinian polo stars Nacho Figueroa and wife Delfina. But when in Parkes it is under my air cooler watching tennis and Big Bash League.

Margot Jolly: My favourite way of keeping cool this summer has been watching the magnificent tennis and catching up on my reading under the life-saving evaporative air conditioner.

What do you like the most about the Parkes Elvis Festival?

Graham Lawrence from the Gold Coast:
It is my 7th time here and this year I will be assistant Elvis Ambassador. I love the festival because it is a tribute to Elvis and the biggest in Australia. I went to Memphis last year with 135,000 other people and stood seven hours in a line to put a candle on Elvis’ grave – it was all worth it!

Cathy Gaylard from Brisbane:
I am here for the sixth time because I love Elvis, and we love the entertainment at the Parkes Showgrounds. It is also a very friendly town and we have friends here.

Elvis Singer from Adelaide:
It is my fist time here. I’ve been planning to come for a long time and will be busking this year. As a member of the Elvis Fan Club in Adelaide, I came for Elvis and to perform.

What do you want for Christmas?

Phoebe Usher: I want scoot boots for my horse. I have three horses, but one can’t wear metal horseshoes because she gets bruises and I want her to feel happy and comfortable.

Steven Su: To be honest I don’t exactly want anything. I’m already grateful for what I have.

Mia Coleman: I just want a happy Christmas and for everyone to have fun.

Why do you like to do your Christmas shopping in Parkes?

Sarah McMaugh: I like to shop locally as much as I can, Christmas time and all year round, because it keeps the town rolling.

Tim Baker: I don’t do Christmas shopping, but it’s easy and close for my wife when I send her shopping. Gai likes to support the people who support me in my business.

Suzie McNamara: I like to support the local shops. I like to see the money stay in Parkes and help improve the economy of my town.

Do you have a special Christmas decoration that goes up every year?

Tina Nash: I have little decorations that my kids, now 19, 24 and 26, made for me when they were in pre-school. They are perfect and they are beautiful and they always go at the front of the tree.

Lew Laing: We have an advent calendar Christmas tree, with handmade felt emblems, which we bought in Bangladesh when we lived there for a couple of years in the early 1980s. It still goes up every year.

Jenny Jewell: I have a collection of table decorations including trees and angels which belonged to my mother, Grandma Dot Green. They adorned our Christmas table every year and they still do. Wherever we meet for Christmas these decorations come along.

Do you prefer your onions over or under the sausage?

Steve Chester: The traditional way is to put it on top, and that is the way it should be. If you drop any on the floor it is a waste of good onions!

Tim Watts: I am not concerned either way. It does not really bother me.

Lew Laing: I have never thought about a preference. Having been involved in occupational health and safety for many years, it could be a genuine problem in a shop and something should be done about it.

Would you consider taking on a new sport and why?

Tylah Mapperson: I think dragon boating would be really fun because you’d get to hang out with your mates in a boat, which is something not many people get to do with their friends. And you’d get to make friends with others in the team.

Ella Ross: I would like to try a new sport to meet new friends and challenge myself, also to learn new skills and set some goals and have some fun.

Daniel Mai: It depends what the sport is. I don’t like contact sports, but I’d like to try something like archery or lacrosse. A new sport would be good for meeting new people, getting exercise, improving hand eye coordination and learning new skills.

Why do you think Remembrance Day is still relevant today?

Deidre Bennett: On a National basis it’s how we identify our character. Personally, my grandfather was in the Light Horse Brigade and landed in Gallipoli. Lots of cultures celebrate war victories whereas we commemorate the end of the war and those we lost.

Kevin O’Neill: We remember the ones who fought for our country and came home – and we remember the ones who fought and didn’t come back.

Kristy Berry: Remembrance Day is very relevant for our younger generation. It’s important for them to understand the meaning of the commemoration as part of our history.