Australia Set To Get all Shook Up for Elvis World Record Attempt Interview

Australia Set To Get all Shook Up for World Record Attempt Interview

Optus joins forces with the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival for Elvis impersonation grand title.

Aussie Elvis fans are getting ready to put on their blue suede shoes and rock around the clock in a bid to win back the Guinness World Record™ title for the 'Largest gathering of Elvis Presley impersonators'.

Optus, in conjunction with the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival, is rallying Elvis lovers to make their way to the Parkes Elvis Festival this January to bring the record title back to Australia after it was recently swiped by a group of impersonators in Las Vegas in November.

In 2007, 147 Elvis impersonators gathered in Parkes to sing 'Love Me Tender', breaking the previous record of 78 for the 'Largest gathering of Elvis Presley impersonators.'

Last month, the illustrious title was taken by a group of employees who traveled all the way to Las Vegas, USA to break the record. A total of 645 participants performed 'A Little Less Conversation' while swiveling their hips and performing some of the most recognisable Elvis' moves, and setting the new Guinness World Records record.

In order for Australia to win back the Guinness World Record™, Parkes needs just 646 participants to wiggle their hips like the king while in their best Elvis attire. This means just one additional person to the latest record set in Las Vegas.

Australia's best Elvis Tribute Artist Dean Vegas will host the event and ensure the crowd is ready to shake, rattle and roll to the famed Elvis number one song, 'Love Me Tender.'

Anthony Shiner, General Manager, Optus Country said: "Elvis' legacy will be well and truly alive in Parkes this January as we get set to bring back the world record to regional Australia, where it truly belongs. Optus is committed to supporting regional towns across this great country and we want to make sure that places like Parkes and its unique Elvis Festival receive the commendation they deserve. We're urging as many fans as possible to register and be part of this historic and fun occasion for regional Australia."

It will be 34 years since Elvis left the building, yet an expected 12,000+ Elvis fans will gather in the Central NSW town of Parkes, doubling the population, to celebrate Elvis Presley's birthday in January. Record crowds are expected for the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival from 5-9 January 2011.

Each year the town of Parkes comes alive to the sounds of hip-swivelling Elvis Impersonators and Tribute Artists for the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival. The five-day Festival is not-to-be-missed and features more than 140 individual events the Elvis Gospel Church Service, the iconic Elvis Street Parade and the Crowning of Miss Priscilla. Optus will also be on site at the festival profiling products and services including the latest in smartphone technology and wireless broadband.

The record-breaking event will take place on Saturday January 8th 2011 from 8:30am at the Cooke Park main stage area where the Channel 9 Today show will be broadcasting the Guinness World Record™ attempt on the morning.

Anyone who wants to take part and help bring the title back to Australia should pre-register interest online at: http://www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au/worldrecord by Friday January 7th 2011. Last minute entries for the Guinness World Record™ attempt will be open from 7am and will close at 8am on Saturday, January 8th 2011.

Guidelines for the Guinness World Record™:
Participants must arrive wearing complete Elvis costumes to take part and must sing the entire song 'Love me Tender' all at the same time (with the help of Tribute Artist, Dean Vegas).

A limited number of costumes will be available at the festival for purchase on the day or from Wednesday 5th January leading up to the record-breaking event.

Interview with Maria Chetcuti

Maria Chetcuti is the Elvis Festival Manager, Parkes Shire Council.

Question: How is Optus working with the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival to win back the Guinness World Record to Parkes?

Maria Chetcuti: Optus has joined forces with CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival to put the world record attempt on. In 2007 we held the world record for 'Largest gathering of Elvis Presley impersonators' with 147 but in November 2010 we were beaten in quite a massive way with 645 impersonators in Las Vegas. We are very keen to get the world record back to Parkes.


Question: How many Elvis Presley impersonators are needed to win back the Guinness World Record™ title for the 'Largest gathering of Elvis Presley impersonators'?

Maria Chetcuti: Just one more, 646, but we are hoping to blast them out of the water with 1,000. We are really encouraging people to get involved in the world record attempt.


Question: What else do the Elvis Presley impersonators need to do to win back the Guinness World Record title?

Maria Chetcuti: The Elvis Presley impersonators need to register and come along to the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival dressed head-to-toe in an Elvis outfit and be ready to belt out one of Elvis's greatest hits and if they want to chuck in some Elvis moves that would be great, as well!


Question: Can you talk about Dean Vegas' role in achieving this Guinness World Record title?

Maria Chetcuti: Dean Vegas will be involved in leading the Elvis Presley impersonators through the song and the song we have chosen this year is Love me Tender.


Question: Why did you choose to have the impersonators sing Love me Tender?

Maria Chetcuti: Love me Tender was the same song we did back in 2007 when we first achieved the record. We are thinking of Love Me Tender as our signature tune.


Question: What else can attendees expect from the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival?

Maria Chetcuti: There are over 140 events over five days of the festival; there really is something for everybody. Some of the key events are the Elvis Street Parade, the Elvis Gospel Service and there is entertainment in the park, including two free concerts as well as a host of entertainment by some of Australia's top Elvis tribute artists, all throughout the week.


Question: Can you talk about the community support for the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival?

Maria Chetcuti: The CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival doubles the population of Parkes so it takes a tremendous amount of work, all across the community. The community really does get heavily involved; there is an organising committee that organises the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival, each year and there are loads of people who stick up their hands around the community that volunteer and get involved. The Parkes council is involved as well as all the local Parkes businesses. Down the street at the moment there are window displays in all the business windows, which is tremendous, it is a real community approach.


Question: How did you become the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival Manager?

Maria Chetcuti: I applied and this is my first CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival. Quite a few of my friends contacted me and said "you have to get involved in the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival, this is the perfect job for you" and I have to say it has been really quite amazing.


Interview by Brooke Hunter