Parkes Elvis Festival Director Tiffany Steel (middle) with her parents and founders of the festival Anne and Bob Steel at the launch of the 30th anniversary festival last year.
She was only two years old when Elvis died on 16th August 1977, her mum’s birthday.
She was 5 when her parents Bob and Anne Steel opened Gracelands. (Named after Elvis’s home, but they applied to use the ‘s’ at the end.)
She was 17 when the first Parkes Elvis Festival took place and she literally had to become her mum’s right hand.
“I was at boarding school in Orange and home for the holidays when mum broke both her wrists and nose when a ladder collapsed,” said Tiffany Steel.
“Mum was basically running the show, so my brother and I and dad had to become her arms. She gave us instructions of what to do and I ended up being MC and hosting the night.”
Tiffany enjoyed the experience so much that is set her up for her career. “I caught the event bug at that first festival and spent the next 30 years in events. I worked on big conferences, trade exhibitions, and for major charities here and all over Europe, and lived in London.”
Even though she had moved away from Parkes, she continued to help Anne with all her scheduling and run sheets on the computer, and then returned for the festival to help out with main stage events and launching new events.
She did not stop even stop when her daughter Ruby was born. “In 2007 I put up my hand to become the temporary festival coordinator when Ruby was only four months old. She came with me to all the sponsorship meetings. That was also the year we launched Miss Priscilla, the Poet’s Breakfast, Elvis Golf Day, formalised the volunteer program and launched the first paid program. It was crazy!”
After that eventful year, she kept on helping her mum and when she was back in Parkes for the 2019 festival a friend said there was a job advertised with her name all over it. “I was working on the Gold Coast at the time in a contract role, and I thought it would be good to bring Ruby to Parkes.
Tiffany became the sponsorship and marketing coordinator in March 2019 and loved it so much that by December 2021 she took on the role as director of the Parkes Elvis Festival. “I never imagined it would turn out this way for me. Mum was always set on making it a big festival.
“My parents were absolutely thrilled when I arrived at their house with a bottle of champagne to tell them I had become director.
“I love the fact that I get to work with Mum and Dad as they are still heavily involved and still portfolio holders, and to work with the other committee members who have been here since the start and continue the work they’ve done for so many years. It is very special.
Tiffany said she realised just how special the Parkes Elvis Festival was when she was always asked about it at job interviews. “Even if it had nothing to do with the role I’d apply for, they always wanted to hear all about it.”
Tiffany says there are enough new fans to keep the festival going. “People who came to the early festivals, their kids grew up with it and now they are coming. It’s great to see all these generations. The demand is there, if only we had double the accommodation.”
She feels the Parkes Elvis Festival can’t be replicated. “Others have popped up, but they’ve been very different to the whole Parkes experience. I really love how our town’s people and shop owners have embraced the event, the friendships made and all the wonderful things that have happened because of the festival. It is a really happy event. We don’t have any problems and everyone is having a good time.”
She recalls standing in the main street just before street parade in 2022 and thinking how amazing it was. “The vibe, the happiness, it gives me the biggest kick.”
It runs in their blood… Anne Steel (middle) with her daughter Tiffany (left) and grand-daughter Ruby at the 2019 festival.
Tiffany Steel and her daughter Ruby at the festival in 2018.