How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I moved with my family to Parkes 27 years ago (on Australia Day, 1995). I like the strong sense of community that exists in a country town (that you just don’t find in Sydney, where I grew up).
What is your favourite thing about your working life? As a schoolteacher, I feel privileged to help prepare our next generation of leaders and citizens. The future is in good hands. When I am working at the Parkes Radio Telescope, I also feel privileged to work at such a world-famous scientific facility, and to be able to share my passion for astronomy.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Although there are some wonderful places in the world, I honestly cannot think of another country that I would rather live in besides Australia.
What makes you laugh the most? Episodes of Hard Quiz, a good comedy movie or a good joke.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Lots of things, but one would be to visit Sir Douglas Mawson’s historic hut in Antarctica.
If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why? Although we often complain about life, it seems to me that we are privileged to live in Australia in the late 20th and early 21st Centuries. I suspect that a lot of people living in developing countries would agree.
If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce? I’d make it compulsory for every school student to learn a second language. Learning another language develops a greater empathy for other cultures.
Do you believe in random acts of kindness and which is your favourite one? I certainly do. Above all, I try to behave towards others in the same way that I would hope that they would behave towards me.
What is one thing you will never do again? I love eating olives…but will never again eat an olive straight off the tree…..urrggghhh!