Kristy Herford: Because I’m a country girl at heart, I’ve always loved it. I’d never go back to Sydney, it’s a lot cleaner and prettier out here.
Ruby Coote: It’s not busy and out here you know lots of people.
Kieren Mowbray: Because country towns feel safer, it’s a more relaxed atmosphere and kids have more freedom to run around.
Chief Inspector David Cooper, Central West Police District: This year has certainly been one of challenges – as we all battled our way through a devastating drought and then the catastrophic bushfires – we thought things were finally starting to look up. Then COVID-19 hit and life has not been the same since. What these things have really shown is that our communities are adaptive, strong and resilient. What was considered “normal” in our day-to-day lives may never be the same again, but we have all managed to adapt and change the way we do things.
Internationally the “Black Lives Matter” movement has come to the fore and has brought with it many conversations. The actions of some police from overseas, as portrayed in the media, appear abhorrent. What I can say is that the police support our community because they are part of the community. Our police and community relations are strong and have been built over many years. Police rely on the community for their support just as much as the community relies on police to maintain law and order. I look forward to continue working with the community as we move forward and face the challenges together.
Margaret Vogelsang: What I’ll miss is the low rate of influenza infection in NSW. I’m afraid the rates will go up when people forget to wash their hands and keep their social distance.
Fred Vogelsang: I think people got closer together as a community during lockdown, and I hope we don’t lose that.
Bee Moxey: Best&Less, it caters for all sizes for men, women, children, and babies. It’s something Parkes doesn’t have and will bring visitors and money into our community.
Peter Bright: This may sound a bit 19th century, but how about The Forbes Co-operative store?
Anna Stiles-Berry: Target, Kmart, Best&Less, Cotton On, Harris Scarfe but preferably something to cater for everyone. Some smaller vacant stores could have flip out, roller arcade, laser tag etc.
Candice Iyer: It will be nice when story time starts back up at the library and I can see the kids again.
Jillian Bray: Going out and mingling with my friends again.
Melissa Judd: Really good, it needed to happen to slow people down in town.
Carmen Duffy: I think that it’s fine, I don’t think people need to be driving over 40km in the CBD anyway.
Lockie Baker: I liked not having to rush every morning and being able to do my work whenever I wanted. I also liked doing fun things like morning bike rides around the Ski Dam, making a worm farm, doing experiments, and riding the four-wheeler and fishing at the farm with my Dad.
Arlie Baker: I liked spending time with Mum because she didn’t have to work and doing all my work in the morning so that I had the rest of the day to play. I liked doing fun things like riding my bike, cooking, going to the farm, making a fairy garden, and wearing my pj’s all day.
Peter Tzinos: I work seven days a week so every day is an event for me.
Jayne Whitworth: I am most looking forward to shows at the RSL club and things returning to normal.
Vicki Dick: Just being present is enough to show love and gratitude.
Nina Crawford: A nice bottle of wine and a selection of cheeses.
Moana Duggan from Lakeside Takeaway: It has forced us to budget more, consider where our income comes from in terms of sales. While our lifestyle hasn’t changed too much, seeing our customers each day has kept us balanced and sane and vice versa. It has been great to see customers from different situations, like those home-schooling and enjoying it, and not enjoying it, farmers who are celebrating the rain we’ve had, those who have lost work, come together (at a social distance) to talk and form new friendships on their morning coffee run. There is a real sense of community and of being in this together.
Janet Callaghan from Painted Daisies Gift Shoppe: It has given me the chance to put more effort into my business online. I never would have done it otherwise. I think our locals also realise that times are tough, and they are shopping. We don’t get visitors anymore so local support is more important than ever.