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.”

This year the Parkes Elvis Festival will be inducting Australian music royalty, Marcia Hines AM, into the Parkes Elvis Festival Wall of Fame. Marcia Hines has an impres­sive career spanning five decades in the entertainment industry that continues go­ing strong.

Marcia was born in Boston, Massachu­setts and came to Australia at 16 after suc­cessfully auditioning for the stage musical Hair. She said “My mother allowed me to be a musician, so when the auditions came up in Boston, I heard about it through a friend of mine who was actually a Shake­spearean actor and he went and said to my mum, he had auditioned for a part in Hair and they said look your good, but in actual fact your too good, do you know any kids around Boston who are kind of like rough diamonds? And he said yeah, I know just the girl,” and the rest is now history.

Marcia was then cast again by Harry M Miller, but this time in Jesus Christ Super­star as Mary Magdalene, and by then she had already captured the hearts of Aus­tralia.

It was no surprise when Marcia was vot­ed Queen of Pop three years in a row from 76-78. “When I won Queen of Pop, I wasn’t a citizen, I was just a permanent resident, and when I won Queen of Pop I thought, Oh, I think this country loves me as much as I love it,” said Marcia.

We asked Marcia about Elvis and she said, “Elvis was my everything, I mean how could he not be? When I grew up I was born in the 50’s and Elvis kind of took over in the 60’s and I remember Elvis vividly.”

Marcia Hines AM, will be inducted into the Parkes Elvis Festival Wall of Fame on Wednesday, 7 January at 10am at the Parkes Visitor Information Centre.

Local Parkes girl Gracey Denham-Jones was crowned the 2025 Miss Priscilla, saying she has “always been drawn to Priscilla’s iconic style, the big hair, bold makeup and glamorous fashion that made her such a standout.”

A great deal of preparation went into creating Gracie’s timeless Priscilla look, including two hours of teasing hair and of course lots of hairspray, with hair stylist Nicole Rosser. Followed by an hour spent on makeup, by Kim at Kindred Beauty to achieve the precise look, completing Gracie’s transformation into Priscilla.

“Being crowned Miss Priscilla 2025 was such an honour. It hon­estly felt surreal, it all happened so quickly that it took a moment to really sink in. The second my name was called, I was surrounded by cameras, photos and media, and it was such a whirlwind of excitement,” said Gracey.

“Being Miss Priscilla has been amazing. I’ve performed at this year’s Elvis Festival launch, danced on stage with Elvis perform­ers and performed at council events. I’ve met so many incredible people, but most importantly I’ve loved representing Parkes, the town I’m proud to call home.”

Gracey has an exciting year ahead with exciting performances coming up with a few Aussie Country Music stars, for updates follow Gracey Denham-Jones on Facebook. “I’ve got lots of gigs booked, I’ll also continue teaching and inspiring young performers at Parkes Dance Co. I really think this year will be my biggest yet and I’m also so excited to continue my role in Marketing at Ray White Central West Group.”

And her advice for future contestants? “All I can say is, the big­ger the hair, the better!”

Tucked inside the Henry Parkes Centre stands a treasure trove that feels a world away from the Central West, it’s known as the King’s Castle, and is a tribute to the life and legend of Elvis Presley. What began as a personal passion for Greg Page, best known as the original Yellow Wiggle, has grown into one of Australia’s most remarkable private Elvis Presley collections.

Greg, a lifelong Elvis devotee, started gathering memorabilia long before the spotlight found him. His collection evolved from small keepsakes to rare and extraordinary artefacts, stage-worn costumes, personal items, vintage merchandise, and pieces that offer intimate glimpses into Elvis’s life and career.

When Greg chose Parkes as the home for his “King’s Castle,” it cemented the town’s unique connection to the global Elvis community.

Visitors wander through themed rooms glowing with nostalgia. Glass cabinets shimmer with rhinestones, iconic jumpsuits stand proudly on display, and handwritten letters remind guests of the man behind the music. Each item comes with a story, many told directly by Greg through video narration, creating an immersive journey that feels both personal and reverent.

More than a museum, King’s Castle is a labour of love and a gift to Elvis fans who travel from across Australia and beyond to experience its magic. It stands as a testament to how one person’s dedication can ignite a legacy.

Open every day, all year round and the perfect place to visit during the festival.