9 - 11 January 2015 - on the legendary southern aurora

Special

photo by Henry Owen

Relive the age of the swinging 60s on the iconic retro sleeper train to one of Australia’s most eccentric and colourful festivals. Celebrate with a themed dinner in the dining car, a show-stopping lunch at the Carrington Hotel Katoomba and all the fun of an on-going, on-board party. Celebrate Elvis in Parkes at the Northparkes Mines Street Parade followed by dinner and then a spectacular tribute show, ‘Ultimate Elvis Concert: ‘70s Saturday’ starring Justin Shandor.

• 2 nights aboard the Southern Aurora fully air-conditioned sleeper train• Chef designed dinner and breakfasts in the dining cars of the Aurora• On-board Elvis-inspired party in the lounge cars• Tribute show and lunch at the Carrington Hotel• The Parkes Elvis Festival: parade, shows and events• Feature concert and dinner show with international Elvis tribute artist

Justin Shandor

at a glance

photo by Michael Lawrence

FRIDAY 9TH JANUARY Meet your hosts, Scott and friends, at a welcome reception in the lounge car on the legendary SOUTHERN AURORA® at Central Station, 10.30 am platform 1. A personal car attendant will show you to your private compartment, your home away from home for the next 2 nights. The Southern Aurora dates from 1962 and the retro charm of this excellently maintained heritage train is a great backdrop to the golden era of Elvis and his iconic music. The ‘ELVIS SPECIAL’ departs at 11.00 am sharp. The train pulls into Katoomba in the early afternoon and you’re invited to take a short walk to the grand old Carrington Hotel for lunch. It’s here that we meet one of Australia’s foremost Elvis Tribute Artists, David Cazalet, who will take you on a theatrical journey featuring many of the songs that made ‘The King’ the most famous pop star of the era. Returning to the train, the party and show continues in the ‘blue’ lounge car. David expands on his engaging musical journey. His song book is fully loaded with Elvis anthems for all to participate in. Stops are made along the way and the long evening light illuminates the rolling hills andvistasoftheCentralTablelandsasyouenjoyafine3-coursedinnerinthediningcar. A nightcap in the lounge car and a late evening stroll at Orange is on the agenda if you desire before the train continues to a quiet spot to stable overnight.

PROGRAM

(c) Parkes Elvis Festival

SATURDAY 10TH JANUARY The train continues its journey before dawn and by the time you’ve established yourself in the dining car for the lavish breakfast that is laid on, the hills and farming country of the western slopes are rolling by. The PARKES ELVIS FESTIVAL has been running for 23 years and has been growing in size and reputation every year. By the time the train pulls into Parkes at about 9.30 am, people have gathered from all over the country and have been in party mode for days. A veritable gyration of Elvises has descended on the town and the place is alive with a supporting cast of all kinds of characters, cars and no end of memorabilia. The street parade brings it all together in a cavalcade of colour and movement to a soundtrackthatrocks.Youarefreeforthedaytoenjoyalltheeventsonofferandthe various shows that are presented in the air-conditioned comfort of the Parkes Leagues Club. See the full program on the next page. Your train ticket includes entry to the 2015 Feature Concert Series starring US Ultimate Tribute Artist Justin Shandor. See Justin perform Elvis’s hits of the Seventies in the ‘Ultimate Concert Series: ‘70s Saturday’ at 8 pm at Parkes Leagues Club. Your ticket also includes dinner at the club prior to the show. Join your fellow revellers back on the train. The lounge cars are a comfortable place to unwind for a nightcap before retiring to your sleeper.

SUNDAY 11TH JANUARY

The train has already travelled some distance by the time the sun rises over the mountains. The usual lavish breakfast is on the menu in the dining car as we traverse the Blue Mountains. There is a screening of clips and movies in the club car as we glide down the grades toward the gateway to the Cumberland Plain, the Nepean River. The Elvis Special weekend escape concludes when the train pulls into Central Station inthelatemorningandthefinalannouncement,“LadiesandGentlemen,Elvishasleftthe building.”

FULL PROGRAM FOR SATURDAY

10TH JAN, AT THE ELVIS FESTIVAL Cooke Park Main Stage and Markets – Coming alive again during 2015, the Cooke Park Main Stage will feature loads of FREE music and entertainment including competitions such as Miss Priscilla Look-a-Like, Elvis Look-a-Like, Elvis Tribute Artist Competition and much more. Market stallswillalsofilltheparkfromcornertocornerwithmanyunique clothing, food and variety markets in operation.

ElvisCentralStore–TheOfficialParkesElvisFestivalStore.Comeintofindallyourofficialmerchandiseandother great Elvis souvenirs. Located in the CBD – Clarinda Street, Parkes.

The Kings Castle – Open 9am – 5pm. View the interactive audio exhibit of unique genuine Elvis artefacts owned by GregPage.LocatedwithinHenryParkesCentre/ParkesVisitor Information Centre, Newell Highway.

Northparkes Mines Street Parade - Featuring everything Elvis, the eagerly awaited Northparkes Mines Street Parade will return again in 2015. Commencing at 10am at the northern end of Clarinda Street, the parade will travel the length of the main street before concluding at Cooke Park.

Cars of the Era Show - As part of the Northparkes Mines Street Parade, the Cars of the Era show will be on display to represent the incredible period of car design of the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Featuring in the parade, then being parked on display along Short Street (adjacent to Cooke Park).

The 2015 Feature Concert Series starring US Ultimate Tribute Artist Justin Shandor. Justin will perform Elvis’s hits of the Seventies in the ‘Ultimate Concert Series: ‘70s Saturday’ at 8pm at Parkes Leagues Club.

(c) Parkes Elvis Festival

(c) Parkes Elvis Festival

(c) Parkes Elvis Festival

THE SOUTHERN AURORA

The Southern Aurora® is an icon of Australia’s railway story, 52 years old and still goingstrong.ItoriginallyoperatedbetweenMelbourneandSydneyandfirstranon 16 April 1962 after the opening of the North East standard gauge line from Melbourne to Albury. First class throughout, including the dining facilities, the Southern Aurora featured all-sleeper accommodation on an overnight service in air-conditionedcomfort.Thetrainisexpertlymanagedbystaffandvolunteersfromthe state’s premier rail heritage authority: Transport Heritage NSW. There are two lounge cars with fully licensed bars, another two restaurant cars and private sleeping compartments, most with en-suites. Big picture windows invite the outside in so you don’t miss the ever-changing panorama on this unique adventure.

JUSTIN SHANDORWORLD RENOWNED ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST:

Since the passing of the King more than 37 years ago, there has never been a tribute artist that has so captivated the look, moves, and especially the sound of the King. According to the Jordanaires (Elvis’s original background singers, which Justin has performed with on several occasions), Justin has the raw talent that shot Elvis to the top.

In August of 2010, Elvis Presley Enterprises held a contest in Memphis and invited thetopElvistributeartistsfromaroundtheworld.JustincameinfirstplaceandGracelandnamedhimthe“World’sUltimateElvis!”HeistheonlyElvisTributeArtistto make the front page of USA Today, and was recently featured in an issue of French Vogue magazine.

He was a guest artist on David Letterman in 2013. In front of an estimated 3.5 million viewers,DavidLettermanranovertoJustinandyelled“Justin,wonderful,wonderful,doitagain,doitagain!”

At the Las Vegas Hilton (where the real Elvis once performed), Justin won the prestigious“HeartoftheKingAward”andhehasalsowon“BestElvisImpersonatorof the Year”. He is currently a regular with the world famous Million Dollar Quartet performing at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

YOUR HOSTS FOR THE WEEKEND David Cazalet is a born performer who has loved the music of Elvis all of his life. His portrayal of Elvis’ music is of a standard that has seen him perform in many of the world’s great showroomsandvotedbythepeopleasthefinestElvisTributeArtist in Sydney. Born in Long Island, New York, he is now based in Sydney, Australia, where not only his talents are held in great esteem. Musically,Davidcaptureseveryeraof“TheKing”fromThat’sAllright Mama in 1954 through all the great Sun, RCA and movie hits onto Elvis’ resurgence from 1968 - 1977 with such songs as EdgeofReality,InTheGhettoandSuspiciousMinds. Susie Elelman has been dubbed the darling of daytime television. Sitting beside with Bert Newtown for almost nine yearsonGoodMorningAustralia,regularlygoinghead-to-headwith Stan Zemanek on Beauty and the Beast and hosting her own national, daily, variety and lifestyle show ‘SUSIE’, are just a few of her many on-camera achievements. Susie’s currently a regular on the 7 Network’s The Morning Show with Larry and Kylie and part of the talkback team on Sydney’s #1 radio station 2GB.Sheisanauthor,columnistandhasbeenanAustraliaDayAmbassador for more than a decade. Being a reporter on the national travel show Postcards Australia was one of Susie’s favourite roles, and she has hosted numerous tours here and overseas which has helped to fuel her travel bug. Susie will be leading tours for Railway Adventures and later in 2015 will host BAVARIA, BOHEMIA, BERLIN by Rail and River.

ScottMcGregorhasbeeninvolvedinthemediaforover30yearsasanactor,presenter,writerandproducer.GraduatingfromNIDAin1979,heappearedinawiderangeofstage,filmand TV roles and has presented and hosted numerous prime-time ratings winners including two series of his own Railway Adventures. As well as Railway Adventures he owns and operates ‘RUWENZORI’ - his Orient Express style tourist retreat near Mudgee NSW and ‘CHATEAU POSS’ a resort style holiday house at Byron Bay.

INCLUSIONS • 2 nights accommodation on the

air-conditioned Southern Aurora in twin or single compartments.(Twins with en suite)

• 3 course dinner in the dining car and 2 lavish breakfasts

• Lunch with ‘The Elvis Story’ show at the Carrington Hotel Katoomba.

• Dinner followed by a 2015 Feature Concert Series show starring Justin Shandor at Parkes Leagues Club

• Unlimited transfers on the Parkes shuttle bus to all the venues around town

TOUR PRICE: $1495 PER PERSON Twin share in ‘twinette’ rooms with en

suite or single ‘roomettes’

This tour is operated by Guidepost Tours, a division of SCT Travel Group in conjunction with Scott McGregor’s Railway Adventures T/A Lic. No. 2TA5895