THERE WASN’T A HOUND DOG IN SIGHT BUT THERE WERE PLENTY OF ELVIS PRESLEY LOOKALIKES WHEN GEMLIFE BRIBIE ISLAND’S JULIE AND BRIAN KENT ROLLED UP IN ONE OF THE EXPLORE BY GEMLIFE MOTORHOMES FOR A FOUR-DAY ELVIS FESTIVAL IN PARKES, NEW SOUTH WALES.
It was an event that Julie, a long time Elvis fan, had wanted to attend for many years, and there she was right in the heart of all the action with thousands of other fellow supporters of the iconic figure. Many festival goers make their way to the event regularly, but for Julie and Brian, it was the first time.
“I’m an Elvis tragic for sure,” admitted Julie who was captivated by the hundreds of Elvis impersonators walking around the streets and putting on shows in the park.
This year, the festival’s theme was Jail House Rock and featured two professional Elvis impersonators from America.
“They were amazing and I’m so glad we made the effort to get to the festival this year,” she said.
Julie has loved Elvis, his movies and his music, since she was a child. She and Brian have even visited Elvis’ home, Graceland, in Memphis – twice!
“It was amazing to walk through his home and see the jungle and music rooms, his gold records along the hallway, and glass mannequins wearing his jumpsuits complete with magnificent gemstones. We had headphones on all the time with someone telling us about his life, and you felt as if Elvis was there with you. Then we went outside and while standing in front of his grave my all-time favourite Elvis song, If I Can Dream, starts to play. That was when the tears started flowing,” said Julie.
Even rain that water-logged many of the camping sites in Parkes couldn’t dampen Julie and Brian’s spirits when joining others to celebrate the king of rock ’n’ roll.
“We were glad we had batteries in the Explore motorhome because there was no power due to the rain,” said Julie.
Rain followed the adventurous couple around through other centres they visited including Moree, Dubbo where they spent a day at the zoo, Orange where they visited family, Lake Cargelligo and Griffith.
“When we got to Griffith, the heavens opened up and it didn’t stop raining, so much so that we were told to leave because they were going to close the roads leading out of town. The rain didn’t stop until we reached the Brisbane side of Toowoomba.
Pleased to say the motorhome didn’t have any leaks at all,” said Brian.
The couple, who celebrated 54 years of marriage on 13 February this year, said they were able to spend at least one rain-free night under the awning of the motorhome when they first arrived at Parkes, sipping wine, eating nibblies, playing cards and watching the sun set.
“You could call us romantics, but we do enjoy looking at things like the beautiful sunsets together. We even wanted to get married on Valentine’s Day, but the church and priest were booked out, so we were married on black Friday, 13 February instead.”