The fame of the Parkes Elvis Festival keeps on spreading as this major event was named the “Best of the Best” at the inaugural Grey Nomads Awards last week.

Announced at a gala dinner on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the Festival took out the top prize after winning the “Best Grey Nomad Festival or Event” category earlier in the evening.

The Grey Nomad Awards recognise communities, tourism operators and events that provide exemplary products, services or experiences for travellers aged over 55.

The “Best of the Best” was granted to the category winner judged as the most outstanding.

“We have an extremely hard-working team of staff and volunteers who work around the clock to deliver a five-day festival with more than 200 unique events,” said Parkes Elvis Festival Director Cathy Treasure.

“Winning this award is wonderful validation for all the blood, sweat and tears that go into delivering this event to our audiences.”

Grey Nomad Awards Director Kim Morgan, said the win was a significant feather in Parkes’ cap. “Winning a Grey Nomad Award says to these travellers that you offer a superior experience where their needs and enjoyment have been taken into special consideration, providing them with verified information that will guide their decisions on where to travel and what to experience.”

Judging was conducted by mature-age tourism and event professionals from around Australia, some of whom had experienced the grey nomad lifestyle, lending weight to Parkes Elvis Festival’s success.

Parkes Elvis Festival and Parkes Shire Council were praised for the thorough research they had conducted to attract and satisfy grey nomads. The judges were impressed that this inland town in the heart of New South Wales has found such a unique way to attract tens of thousands of visitors when much of Australia is solely focussed on seaside holidays.

Writing a letter can sometimes bring surprising results as a year 2 student at Parkes East Primary School found out this week.

Eight-year-old Oscar Hendry wrote a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister about his school and invited him to visit. He also said he wanted to be an astrophysicist one day.

The letter made a big impression and on Monday Michael McCormack came to visit Oscar at his school and spent time in his classroom.

He asked Oscar about his favourite subjects, and if the presence of the Parkes Radio Telescope has inspired Oscar to be an astrophysicist.

Michael told Oscar and the students they could be whatever they wanted to be as long as they applied themselves. “Who knows maybe one day you could be like Andy Thomas the Australian astronaut,” he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister also answered questions from the students about his role, and he handed out certificates to students who participated in an ANZAC Day writing competition earlier in the year.

Students and families from Middleton Public School changed colour last Friday when they participated in a fundraising event.

After a picnic lunch the students donned white t-shirts and ran around an obstacle course whilst getting as much colour on them as possible. It was hard to decide who had the most fun – the students, or the teachers and parents who were in charge of throwing the colour!

With perfect weather for the colour run, many students claimed it was the most fun they had in years.

 

They say every generation ‘throws a hero up the pop charts’, but Sydney-based outfit The Never Ending 80s pay tribute to a whole decade doing it bigger, bolder and better than anyone else.

Their epic three-hour show will take you back to the best of it all packed full of the biggest hits by the biggest artists of that era. As the band expertly carve their way through the music of Prince, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, INXS, Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Queen and many other giants, the vibe created means there is nothing else you can do except sing along and dance!

With over 60,000 followers on Facebook they are simply bigger in profile than many major touring shows, but as singer JC Hollywood says “we just play what the punters want”.

The Never Ending 80s are performing at the Parkes Leagues Club on Saturday, 23rd Nov.

People are invited to 80s fancy dress with prizes for the best dressed on the night.

A new venture will give local residents the opportunity to cash in on next year’s Parkes Elvis Festival by hiring out their caravans and campers to visitors.

Parkes Elvis Festival is partnering with Camplify to help local owners reap the rewards of sharing their unused caravans by earning between $600 and $1250 over the festival’s five days.

“With most RVs used for just four to six weeks of the year, we’re excited to be able to offer a new way for van owners to boost their income with the added bonus of knowing that their vans will be covered by our comprehensive insurance,” said Justin Hales, CEO and Founder of Camplify.

If you’re not confident in customers towing your caravan, that’s also not a problem – Camplify enables you to personally deliver your vehicle and meet customers at local Parkes Elvis Festival campsites.

Camplify will be visiting Parkes in front of Colouby Creations in Clarinda Street from 10am – 5pm on 15th November (today) to provide local owners with more info on sharing their vans. To find out more visit www.camplify.com.au

Ray White Parkes is also offering the opportunity to rent out rooms and homes throughout the festival as part of their hugely popular home hosting program.

School students featured in the proceedings at Monday morning’s commemoration of Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph in Cooke Park.

The school captains of seven local schools read out the names of the fallen in the Parkes district to those gathered for the occasion.

Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said in his address the school children, who had read out the names so eloquently and beautifully, had to carry on the tradition of honouring those who had sacrificed their lives for Australia.

“So many names were read out… how many stories, how many lives lost? We owe them our gratitude and need to continue this tradition to remember their sacrifice and service.”

The Deputy Prime Minister met all the students after the ceremony and gave them a memento to keep of the day.

The commemoration on Monday marked the 101st anniversary of the Armistice that ended the First World War on 11th November 1918.

Between 1914 and 1918 a newly federated Australia sent 414,000 troops to the war. By 1918, almost 62,000 Australians had died.

On this day each year, people across the globe observe a minute’s silence in memory of those who have died or suffered in war and on peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.

 

The very first double-stacked freight train had already left the Parkes Logistics Hub when Pacific National’s brand new $35 million facility was officially opened last week.

The largest logistics terminal in NSW will not only enhance productivity for Inland Rail, but will also bring an additional 90 jobs based at the terminal.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said at the opening: “This is a game-changer for Australian freight.”

“Construction started on the Parkes to Narromine leg of Inland Rail almost one year ago and has already proven a boom for local small businesses while creating al- most 900 new jobs, 370 of which are local people.”

The 365-hectare terminal site was still a sheep paddock only a year ago belonging to Parkes Mayor Ken Keith.

“It is a privilege to see how this paddock, that my grandfather bought 97 years ago, has developed,” said Ken. “I think my forebears would be delighted to see what has been built on the land they had bought. The Sydney to Perth line runs through the bottom part of our land, and Inland Rail on the eastern side.”

Ken said it was a nostalgic day for him as he had to step back during the development of the project, and congratulated the team at Parkes Shire Council for doing a sensational job.

The day turned more special for the Mayor when Pacific National CEO Dean Dalla Valle handed him a sign saying the entrance road to the terminal would be called Ken Keith OAM Drive. “It is only fitting to recognise Ken’s long work over 30 years,” said Dean.

The Parkes Logistics Terminal will be moving 50,000 shipping containers of freight from the terminal this year, going up to 100,000 next year and eventually 450,000.