Maggi Barnard

This year’s Anzac Day celebrations in Parkes might turn out to be one of the biggest ever with many Parkes Elvis Festival visitors asking to be part of the day.

The Elvis Festival ends on Sunday, the day before Anzac Day and the Parkes Sub Branch secretary Paul Thomas said: “We have received a lot of requests from visitors who wish to participate in the March and other festivities.”

He said the traditional selling of badges and memorabilia in the main street leading up to Anzac Day would not take place, but instead the Sub Branch would be setting up a stall in Cooke Park to sell its memorabilia and Anzac Biscuits.

The special guest of honour on the day is Major General J. Paul Stevens AO (Rtd)., and state member Phil Donato MP will also be in attendance.

In Parkes the Anzac Day celebrations will commence with the Dawn Service at 5:30am at Memorial Hill.

Parking at Memorial Hill is limited to Returned Service personnel and holders of In- Capacitated Entitlement Cards.

Parkes Services Club will host a free breakfast at 6:30am for personnel with tickets, while both the Anglican and Catholic churches will conduct special Anzac Day services at 7:30am.

The traditional Anzac Day March starts at 8:20 in front of the Parkes Services Club and it is anticipated that Major General Paul Stevens AO will receive the Salute during the march.

The Mayor of Parkes Ken Keith OAM will commence proceedings at the Commemorative Service with the official welcome. The Parkes Shire Concert Band will provide entertainment and they will support the Parkes Christian School choir.

The captains of the Parkes East Public School Patrick McPherson and Kasey Morgan and Parkes High Schools Captains Charlie Denham-Lowe and Amanda Lowe will do the Address by Modern Youth.

At approximately 10:45am a Wreath Laying Pilgrimage to the Parkes Cemetery War Graves Section will take place.

The Official Anzac Day luncheon will follow the Cooke Park Commemorative Celebration at 12 midday.

Concluding the day’s activities will be the sounding of Retreat at the Cooke Park Cenotaph at 5pm.

Anzac Day celebrations in the rest of the Parkes Shire:

Alectown Dawn Service at 6am; Tullamore Commemorative Service at 10:30am; Bogan Gate Dawn Service at 6am followed by a breakfast; Trundle March “Fall In” at Trundle Central School at 10:30am; Peak Hill Dawn Service at 6am at the AIF Gates then an Anzac Day March at 10:30am.

This year’s Anzac Day national service will once again be held at the Australian War Memorial and broadcast nationally.

Australians are encouraged to stand up this Anzac Day to honour all service personnel, past and present. How you honour and remember those who are serving and those who have served is up to you. Take time to reflect on Anzac Day in a way that means the most to you.

The Elvis community in Parkes lost two of its biggest supporters and hardest workers when Debby Lennox passed away on 29th July 2021 and John Job on 15th January, 2020.

Debby and her partner Steve (Elvis) have been an integral part of the festival from day one. Debby was the president of Elvis Revival Inc (ERI – Elvis Festival volunteer committee), at the time of her passing, a committee she served for more than 25 years.

“Debby loved the Parkes Elvis Festival and enjoyed it so much,” said Steve. They shared a passion and love for Elvis Presley, and one of Debby’s many jobs was to always be there for Steve and help him open his private Elvis collection during the festival.

“Deb was a tireless volunteer worker who devoted hour upon hour of her time across many, many years in her efforts in raising funds for the Parkes Elvis Festival,” said fellow committee member Lorraine Job.

Debby’s many virtues included being a talented seamstress, which she used to sew beautiful Elvis jumpsuits. She also sold thousands of raffle tickets to raise funds for the festival, had an amazing talent to remain positive and gifted so much time to others.

John worked continuously and tirelessly as a volunteer at Elvis Central, Renewal of Vows Ceremony, Elvis Poets Breakfast and the Elvis Street Parade for over 16 years. He was his partner Lorraine’s steadfast supporter at all these events as she served on the ERI committee. He never hesitated to put in countless hours while still continuing his everyday jobs.

John was a hard-working, kind, caring and lovely man who never complained, always smiled and happy to help anyone wherever he possibly could.

John was always there to assist Lorraine, and as she was doing work for the festival this year, his absence was acutely poignant.

 

Jeff Lewis hosts the popular Elvis Week after parties in Memphis, has won the Last Chance Ultimate at the Hard Rock in Memphis and competed in the Elvis Presley Enterprises Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest himself. This is Jeff’s first time performing in Australia and he will emcee and perform at the Parkes Elvis Festival, and host the first ever after party of the festival.

How do you feel about coming to the Parkes Elvis Festival?

Going to Australia has always been a dream of mine. I first fell in love with Australia after seeing Crocodile Dundee in college. I am so excited about seeing the festival in person, but I am also excited about seeing so many friends in Australia I have met online through my Facebook Live Shows. It will be great to finally perform for them in person. Plus, any time I get the chance to sing with the band Tributes In Concert Band (TIC), I’ll take it. I think they are the best Elvis band in the world.

What have you heard about the Parkes Elvis Festival?

I have heard it is the biggest festival in the world. Also, that the fan base is incredible. I know this is going to be an experience I will never forget. But the most important thing, I heard the fans are HUGE Elvis fans, that is why we do this.

In your award-winning career as an ETA, and with your long history of performing with ETAs, do you hope to see some fresh talent in Parkes?

I respect anyone who picks up a microphone, puts on the sideburns, and pays tribute to the greatest entertainer in history, Elvis Presley. We all do this because of our love for Elvis. There are so many performers in Australia I have only seen online, I can’t wait to see them pay their tribute in person.

Why do you think Elvis has such an enduring legacy after all these years?

I get asked this question a lot. The simple answer is, he was great. He was one of the best singers that ever lived and definitely the most charismatic performer that has ever taken the stage. The more complex answer is how he was able to reinvent himself in so many ways.

Now here we are, 45 years after his death, and we are still celebrating Elvis with Festivals all over the world and soon, a movie that will create a whole new generation of fans.

What keeps you connected to Elvis?

There is never a time I don’t love hearing Elvis. I’ve always been a huge fan, but I never dreamed I’d be making a living due to my love for him. The more Elvis fans I meet, the more of the Elvis world I experience, the more I learn about Elvis. I also see pictures and hear songs I had never heard. The coolest thing about this experience are the experiences I’ve had meeting and becoming friends with people that worked with and knew Elvis. That has really given Elvis a third dimension for me.

Do you have a favourite Elvis song to listen to and a favourite one to perform?

I love to perform the more obscure songs from the 70s like ‘Heart of Rome’, ‘Padre’, and a lot of his gospel songs, my favourite being ‘He Touched Me’. ‘Separate Ways’ has always been one of my favourites to listen to, but as soon as I say that, I think of a few hundred more I love hearing.