The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest event will see the best Elvis tribute artists from Australia and New Zealand in action from today to vie for a place in the final in Memphis, USA in August. The event serves as a preliminary round of the 2017 UETA Contest during Elvis Week in August in the USA and is officially endorsed by Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. The Heats kick off at 2pm today at the Parkes Leagues Club with 18 contestants, with the finals at 2pm on Saturday.

The 2017 Parkes Elvis Festival preliminary round contestants are: Brody Finlay (QLD), Sidney O’Neil (VIC), Sean Spiteri (NSW), Marcus Jackson (VIC), George Brooking (NZ), Lenard Connolly (NSW), Stephen Fletcher (QLD), Nick Nicolas (NSW), Morris Posa (NSW), Rupert King (NZ), Brian Millard (SA), Brendon Chase (NZ), Mike Tsama (NSW), Matt Birse (SA), Stuart Vieyra (QLD), Johnny Angel (NZ), Jeff Hancox (QLD) and George Kritikos (NSW).

Contestants will perform backed by the dynamic eight-piece Elvis In Concert band, and will be judged on their stage presence, singing ability and the overall quality of the performance. The winner will be awarded $3,000 prize money to assist in their travel expenses to compete in Memphis and an all-expenses paid trip and performance at
Auckland’s Elvis in the Gardens. Contact the Parkes Leagues Club for tickets on 6862 1499 or at www.parkesleagues.com.au.

Sunscreens and sunblocks are important for protecting the skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays. The SPF score on a bottle of sunscreen tells you how protective the ingredients are against UV rays: an SPF 50+ is more protective than an SPF 30+. While there are physical barriers (sunblocks) and chemical barriers (sunscreens), there is a new category of sunscreen available and the latest technology for protecting your skin against the Australian sun is called
Liposomal.

Sunblocks are always a thick, opaque cream containing ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. The physical protection blocks forms of UV rays from outside the skin. Sunblocks are often cosmetically unappealing as they are visible (usually white and shiny), difficult to wash off and messy. They are recommended for people with a sensitivity to UV rays and little people from 12 months.

Sunscreen is a cream, which forms a thin, colourless film on the skin that acts as a filter against UV rays. Ingredients in a sunscreen filter reduce and absorb harmful UVA and UVB rays and work from under the skin. Liposomal formulations are a new category altogether. A liposomal sunscreen is a sunscreen, which is formulated to contain small particles called liposomes. Liposomes are used as a vehicle to carry UVA and UVB protective filters, the properties of which may enable penetration of the sunscreen into the outer layer of the skin. There is no
absorption into the blood stream, so lessening the chemical risk factor, but as it’s still absorbed, there’s no greasy finish.

Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure to ensure protection and reapplied every two to four hours.

Why do thousands of people in wigs, jumpsuits and fake Priscilla eyelashes go to Parkes to swelter in 40 degree heat to celebrate the King? You can hear the answer to this question at the Parkes Library today at 6pm at the official launch of the book, Outback Elvis, The story of a Festival, its Fans and a Town Called Parkes.

Written by two long-time fans of the festival, John Connell and Chris Gibson, Outback Elvis introduces the local characters, the lookalikes, the impersonators and the tribute artists – and the town that made this big hunk o’ Elvis love possible. Professor John Connell (University of Sydney) and his colleague Chris Gibson (University of Wollongong) have been attending the Parkes Elvis Festival since 2002. John and Chris will be at Parkes Library to launch their book and chat with the audience about why they researched and wrote Outback Elvis.

Apart from attending the Elvis Festival, John and Chris have published a large body of work on music festivals in Australia. Both are geographers: John is professor of geography at the University of Sydney; and Chris is a professor of human geography at the University of Wollongong and a musician. Their co-authored books include Music
Festivals and Regional Development in Australia (2014), Festival Places (2011), Music and Tourism: On the Road Again (2005) and Sound Tracks: Popular Music, Identity and Place (2003).

Central West Family Day Care is a unique, quality childcare option for young children from 0 to 13 years. Accredited quality childcare is provided in the homes of registered educators who are supported by qualified and experienced
staff. Central West Family Day Care Scheme is funded by the Commonwealth Government and is eligible for government childcare subsidies, such as Childcare Benefit and Childcare Rebate, that can assist with reducing the cost of childcare.

The hours of care are flexible and can be matched to a family’s needs and include weekends, overnight, shift work hours, school holidays, casual, emergency or relief care when needed. The service is available to working and non-working parents. In Home Care, another childcare option available, is limited to families with no access to existing child care services, and/or their existing child care service cannot meet their needs, and where the family meets one or more of other criteria including living remotely, illness or disability, work hours of carer and families of three or more kids.

Parents/families are welcome to call or visit the Central West Family Day Care office any time. Office Hours: 8.30 am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Phone 02 6862 3111.

Elvis Central held an official launch party on Sunday to coincide with The King’s’ birthday and to give local retailers the opportunity to do Elvis Shopping before the arrival of the crowds. “We felt it was fitting to host the official launch on January 8th to celebrate Elvis’ birthday – he would have turned 82 this year,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Tourism
Leader, Jaimee Timmins. Bob and Anne Steel, the co-founders of the Festival, did the official honours by cutting the Elvis themed cake.

Elvis Central is situated at 203 Clarinda Street, in the heart of the Festival Boulevard. “This year’s festival is expecting to exceed last year’s visitation numbers, so we wanted to give our local retailers a chance to do all their Elvis shopping without having to grapple with the crowds,” said Jaimee. Elvis Central is the official outlet for Festival merchandise and souvenirs, with proceeds going directly to the Festival allowing it to grow and improve each year.

Festival visitors can purchase the official 25th anniversary souvenir program, calendar and DVD, must-have Elvis and Priscilla wigs and sunglasses, as well as a large selection of official Festival merchandise including T-shirts, hats, stubby holders, pens, fans, magnets and more. Elvis Central is open until seven tonight, 8:30am to 7pm tomorrow, 8:30am to 5pm on Sunday and 9am to 3pm on Monday.

Digby George “Dig” Richards will be posthumously honoured at the Elvis Wall of Fame at the Kelly Reserve in Parkes next Wednesday in one of the first events of the 25th Elvis Festival. Dig will join 22 other Australian music legends on the Wall of Fame. The ceremony at 2pm will be followed by The Wall of Fame Show in honour of Dig at the Parkes Services Club at 4pm.

Fellow Wall of Famers Rob E.G., Little Pattie and Lucky Starr will perform, as well as Dig’s brother Doug Richards, who played with Rob E.G. and Lucky Starr and lives in Parkes these days. “I am looking forward to the show,” said Lucky Starr. “It’s been a long time since I’ve worked with Rob E.G. and Doug.” He said Dig was his best mate and his inclusion on the Wall of Fame has been long overdue. Dig was best known as lead singer of the R’Jays and their first single, I Wanna Love You, was written by Dig’s 15-year-old brother, Doug. The song peaked at no. 7 on radio station 2UE’s Top 40. The group’s second single, I’m Through, also penned by Doug, reached the Top 40 shortly after.

Dig became one of Australia’s first wave of Rock ‘n Rollers, and one of the Top Five Australian Rock Superstars of the 1958/59 era with Johnny O’Keefe, Col Joye and Joynny Devlin. Dig, Rob E.G. (Robie Porter) and Johnny Devlin were billed together as The Rat Pack and became an institution on Saturdays in Sydney.

Welcome to all the visitors to Parkes Shire for the 2017 Elvis Festival. We are sure you will have a rocking good time in Parkes.
Pop on your blue suede shoes and take some time to explore the Parkes Shire and discover the colourful, fun and interesting attractions and landscapes that all add up to making your visit to our region a memorable one.
Take a stroll through the Parkes central business district (CBD) and soak up the vibrant character of the town through the Public Art Trail. The works by local artist Jac Clark reflect the character and spirit of Parkes.
Enjoy quality food and coffee at one of our fabulous cafes and restaurants and browse our unique boutiques and retail outlets where you can shop for your chance to win a trip to Las Vegas valued at $4,000.
Take a trip to outer space with a visit to the iconic CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope, discover history + culture at the Henry Parkes Centre (HPC), home to the King’s Castle Elvis Exhibit.
Have fun + adventure at one of the many recreation areas and parks including Goobang National Park, or dig up some local history at The Peak Hill Open Cut Gold Mine.
Experience country hospitality and meet some of the region’s friendly locals at the townships of Peak Hill, Trundle, Tullamore and Bogan Gate – all just a short drive from Parkes.
For more information and to plan your next adventure to the Parkes Shire, go to www.visitparkes.com.au and keep connected via the Visit Parkes Facebook and Instagram pages.