Pictured from left to right Ash, Sue, Ken and Jack McGrath standing in front of the new Wall of Fame gates at the Parkes Visitors Information Centre. Kenny was pivotal in the construction of the original Wall of Fame gates at Bushmans Dam.
For more than three decades, the Parkes Elvis Festival has thrived on the dedication of volunteers, and few families embody that spirit more than Ken and Sue McGrath.
The McGraths’ commitment has become a true family legacy, passed down to all eight of their children.
Ken and Sue were there from the very beginning. They immersed themselves in the Festival, attending the Eddie Youngblood concert and helping out at flea markets on the Gracelands grounds. Sue even put her screen printing skills to work, producing memorabilia such as t-shirts, table placemats, scarves and handkerchiefs, many of which were used as competition prizes in the early years.
Over the years, Ken and Sue have held numerous official roles within Elvis Revival Inc (ERI), Ken as President and Secretary, and Sue as Treasurer and together, have coordinated countless Festival elements.
Their contributions range from helping build the original Elvis Wall of Fame, marshalling the street parade, coordinating buskers and the busking competition, running markets and raffles, to the critical role of managing volunteers.
When their children were young, volunteering was a family affair. The kids rolled lamingtons for fundraising drives, worked white elephant stalls, and pitched in wherever help was needed. Today, 33 years on, that legacy continues. Two of their children, Ashlee and Jack, are now portfolio holders, managing key components of the Festival, while several of their other children Kelly, Sally, Bec and Del support the event when they can.
Reflecting on her favourite part of the Festival, Sue says, “We’ve made so many lovely friends and even met rock ’n’ roll greats. Meeting Judy Stone was a real highlight for me.”
Ken added, “One of the reasons the Festival works so well is that the outdoor entertainment is free and it’s an alcoholfree event, which makes it welcoming for everyone.”