Elvis Lives On in Australia

WHEN the late Elvis sang Everybody Come Aboard, little did he know his fans would take it literally in drought-stricken Oz.

 
More than 400 people boarded a train bound for the annual Parkes Elvis Festival yesterday.

 
Elvis impersonators and Priscillas jumped on the train in Sydney for Australia's version of Gracelands[sic] to commemorate 31 years since his death.

 
The train's staff were dressed as Elvis and passengers enjoyed live entertainment all the way.

 
They all claim to be die-hard fans, including Scott Crawford, 45, who dazzled crowds at Central station's platform 1 with his version of Suspicious Minds.

 
"Before Elvis there was nothing," said Mr Crawford, an Elvis impersonator for half his life.

 
The Parkes Elvis Festival is held every January to coincide with Elvis' birthday on January 8.

An army of white-suited and big-haired Elvis impersonators has gathered in a small town in Australia for a festival dedicated to the King of Rock 'n' Roll.

Parkes in New South Wales has been hosting the festival, the largest event of its kind in the country, since 1993.

The town's population is expected to almost double over the weekend.

This year's carnival features a host of look-alike and sound-alike competitions, an Elvis art show and a special Gospel church service.

The events are being themed after Elvis's popular 1961 film, Blue Hawaii, and his hit 1956 song, Blue Suede Shoes.

Parkes (pop. 9500), often called the 'gateway to the stars' because of the giant radio telescope 24km north of the town (with visitor center). Founded in 1862, Parkes is now a commercial and industrial center.