Not wanting to boast, but over the summer holidays, I met Elvis (he’s alive and well in Parkes, NSW) and who knew that he was a Scottish clay-target-shooter from Sydney?
It’s possible he may have been an impersonator, but for all intents and purposes, he looked legit (except maybe the tartan-trim jumpsuit). We were both catching the Elvis Express train from Sydney’s Central Station to Parkes Elvis Festival, along with 220 other Presleys.
Even train driver Pete White ditched his plain blue Transport NSW uniform for a white jumpsuit and mutton chops.
Seated beside me in the All Shook Up carriage was Elvis (a middle-aged surfer from Newcastle) dressed in gold bling from head to toe. He said he once skydived out of a plane dressed as Elvis, losing his wig and aviator sunnies on the way down.
This seven-hour train journey was anything but dull.
Priscilla Presley herself, from the Central Coast, was seated across the aisle and as the train embarked on its 365km journey, we were transported back to the 1950s as the live entertainment began.
First up was Kiwi Elvis, sporting a mullet, who told us that perfecting Elvis’ dance moves was easy: “You just get on the train and it’ll do the rest.”
As we shake, rattle and roll along, the cafe car is serving peanut butter, jelly, banana and bacon sandwiches, with doughnuts for dessert (I do hope there was a defibrillator onboard).
Even though I gleefully joined in the conga line weaving its way down the Burning Love Bullet carriage (tricky but achievable), I should state that I’m not actually an Elvis fan. This bizarre rail experience, however, is for anyone who likes fancy dress, karaoke and frivolity.
If the official-looking Mayor of Parkes, Neil Westcott, can turn up on Pitt Street in a dazzling blue jumpsuit, anyone can. Even NSW Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison, donned a beehive hairdo for the occasion.
As we rolled into Parkes Railway Station, the temperature outside was 38 degrees, but it didn’t stop us belting out Viva Las Vegas to greet the town crier (Elvis), a troupe of swing dancers, and about 25,000 raving Elvis fans.
The tiny town of Parkes, population 12,000, had miraculously transformed into Memphis, Tennessee.
As luck would have it, it was also the day before Elvis’ birthday (he would have been 91).
If there was ever any doubt over whether Elvis still lives, just ask the 188 million people around the world who follow the Parkes Elvis Festival online.
Elvis has not left the building.
There was a living, breathing Elvis in every single pub in Parkes and this five-day festival, now in its 33rd year, has official endorsement by the estate of Elvis Presley and is the biggest celebration of Elvis outside of Memphis.
This year’s theme was Love Me Tender, inspired by the 1956 Elvis ballad and his debut film of the same name, and loved-up couples renewed their vows before an Elvis wedding celebrant, while an Elvis tribute artist serenaded your significant other or “Teddy Bear”.
No matter where you go, you can’t escape the pelvis fever.
There’s an Elvis Gospel Service at the Uniting Church, a life-size bronze Elvis Presley statue in Cooke Park, Elvis trivia/bingo at the Leagues Club and Elvis trots at the racetrack. All of this injects more than $10 million into the Central West’s local economy.
Thankyerverymuch.
The Elvis Parkes Festival is held every year in the second week in January, coinciding with Elvis Presley’s birthday. Info: parkeselvisfestival.com.au
