Once a year the Countrylink Elvis train sets off from Central Station to Parkes in central NSW to celebrate THE KING!

It's his birthday and he would have been 77 this year. The excitement is higher than on a first school trip with the average age of Elvettes and Elvii being 40 plus. This doesn't keep them from flashing their undies in wild rock n roll moves on platform 1 and getting on the Jim Beam Cola cans at 9 am when the train sets off. On board are screaming and jodelling Elvis fans like Elvira who hasn’t missed a trip since 10 years. The Elvis impersonator on the train brought his whole family, which means his wife gets to watch cheerfully while her hubby is shaking his rump to the sounds of the karaoke machine and a lovely older lady grabs his bottom from behind. His son will be competing in tomorrow’s junior Elvis competition.

I share some rice crackers on the train with Gretchen- a student from Mississippi who is writing her thesis on social studies and ... Elvis fans. We are wondering why the goody bag we received had multiple flyers of "Beyond Blue", a national depression initiative...well Elvis wasn't always a happy man either I guess.

Parkes itself is a quiet country town with a main road featuring KFC, Maccas and Pizza Hut and of course...The Dish (famous from the movie The Dish!) The only relic from the beginnings of Elvis Mania here is Gracelands...a deserted restaurant which is now for sale.

On arrival in Parkes the platform is packed with people all awaiting the arrival of the Elvis train and by now quite tipsily and singing Viva Las Vegas for the 5th time...at least...

Home hosting has been organised for most of the 15,000 visitors here for the festival celebrations. In the station's car park, a golden-suited Elvis holds up a sign to look out for ‘Elvis in the white Vegas outfit to put him up at his house for the weekend.

The vibe of the festival is peaceful and happy with events and booze starting everyday at 9am and temperatures rising to the mid 30's...only wigs and make-up might have slipped and smeared a bit./

Some ladies however change their matching outfits everyday and appear immaculately hoping in their hearts to be featured in the merchandise calendar next year.

So I set out to walk the streets of Parkes, which are equipped with speakers playing Elvis songs non-stop and hosting Elvis buskers on every street corner. I meet aboriginal Elvis, who didn't get a gig on any of the stages for the weekend. I meet Michael, a kid with Down’s syndrome who is traveling with a group from Newcastle and can’t stop dancing. I meet Irish Elvis, Indian Elvis, Miss Pricilla 2011...and I set out to see The Dish- a large satellite radio dish in the bush surrounded by Elvii eagerly trying out the solar system model at the Visitor Centre.

It’s Sunday everybody takes their camping chairs to the BigW carpark to get a spot for the Elvis Gospel Service with first Impersonators performing bravely at 7.30 am...causing emotional tears from some fans. The service reveals that there is more to this man in blue suede shoes than a pretty face and a great voice- he was following his dream. Torn between rich and poor social structures in the U.S. which was deep in to the civil rights movement his role model was Martin Luther King. And as controversial as his political and social upbringing might have been Elvis was one of the first performers to have black background singers in his ensemble.

What moves me most throughout the festival though is seeing all these people so happy- dancing and singing their hearts out.

Before I leave Parkes and board the coach to Orange I grab the last life size Elvis stand ups at Elvis Central, the main merchandise hub, defending myself from jealous Elvettes as this is the last one of Elvis in the cowboy outfit. Tough luck ladies...he is mine! So with cowboy Elvis in a big plastic bag and golden sashes and a song on my lips I return home with a handful of tired fans waving farewell to a lonely and slightly disheveled Elvis at Parkes Station.