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.

The town of Peak Heal has been celebrating all week after their very own Molly Wright was named the winner of The Land Sydney Royal Ag Shows Young Woman of 2022 at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney on Sunday.

Molly said she felt honoured and humbled to be chosen from a group of very deserving women.

“I’d love to represent all those women and what they stand for, what they’re trying to promote, and I will be their voice as they go back to their communities,” she said.

“We are very proud of her,” said Molly’s mum Tanya Wright. “It is so deserving as she has worked so hard.”

Molly studied agribusiness with an RAS scholarship and is the livestock manager of her parents’ 20,000 acre farm Bundy Downs at Peak Hill.

Molly has been very busy all week at the Royal Easter Show handing out prizes to winners of all the various competitions, and doing lots of media interviews.

Molly is the first winner of the iconic showgirl competition to be named Young Woman of the Year after it was renamed after 60 years.

A Parkes student is among the winners of the annual ANZAC writing competition run by Member for Riverina Michael McCormack. Kasey Morgan (12) of Parkes East Public School was picked from the more than 700 entries received for the 12th competition. Kasey won a book prize in the primary schools highly commended category.

“The entries showcased creative writing prowess as well as honing researching skills as they interpreted the ‘Keeping the ANZAC spirit alive in the Riverina and Central West’ theme,” said Michael.

Every student who submitted an entry will receive a participation certificate, while each of the 16 winning and highly commended entries will be published in a 52-page booklet.

Two Parkes Shire community organisations will be able to carry out important upgrading work following the approval of grants under the popular Stronger Communities Programme (SCP).

The Trundle Sports Council has received a $20,000 SCP grant, while Neighbourhood Central in Parkes has been approved for a $3,000 grant.

Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said the Trundle Sports Council would put its grant towards upgrading Berryman Park, which included replacing fencing. Neighbourhood Central is going to use its grant to install a shade sail over its courtyard.

Trundle Sports Council spokesman Andrew Rawsthorne welcomed the SCP grant. “Berryman Park is a hub for the whole community and is really loved,” he said. “Everyone takes a great deal of pride in it.

“The community has worked tirelessly for the past 10 years to upgrade its facilities and we are just about to kick start one of the largest upgrades in the park’s history. “This funding to start the replacement of the park’s perimeter fence is a huge help and will make the park safer, particularly at night-time, and far better for the many young families who use the park every day, as well as more easily accessible and more event ready.

“We are extremely grateful for the funding.” Neighbourhood Central executive officer Dianne Scott said the shade sail would make a big difference to the courtyard. “Staff, volunteers and clients will be able to use the courtyard safely, because there is no shade there now,” she said.

Michael said $149,500 had been approved for 11 projects in the Riverina and Central West through Round 7 of SCP, a program for not-for-profit organisations which funds small capital projects that deliver important social benefits in each of the 151 Federal electorates across the country.