Special - Railway Adventures

Special
photo by Henry Owen
9 - 11 January 2015 - on the legendary southern aurora
at a glance
•
•
•
•
•
•
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
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.
photo by Michael Lawrence
PROGRAM
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
and vistas of the Central Tablelands as you enjoy a fine 3-course dinner in the dining
car. 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.
(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
sound track that rocks. You are free for the day to enjoy all the events on offer and
the 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
in the late morning and the final announcement, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Elvis has left
the 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
stalls will also fill the park from corner to corner with many
unique clothing, food and variety markets in operation.
Elvis Central Store – The Official Parkes Elvis Festival
Store. Come in to find all your official merchandise and
other great Elvis souvenirs. Located in the CBD – Clarinda
Street, Parkes.
(c) Parkes Elvis Festival
The Kings Castle – Open 9am – 5pm. View the interactive
audio exhibit of unique genuine Elvis artefacts owned by
Greg Page. Located within Henry Parkes Centre/Parkes
Visitor 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.
(c) Parkes Elvis Festival
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
THE SOUTHERN AURORA
The Southern Aurora® is an icon of Australia’s railway story, 52 years old and still
going strong. It originally operated between Melbourne and Sydney and first ran
on 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 airconditioned comfort. The train is expertly managed by staff and volunteers from
the 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 SHANDOR
WORLD 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
the top Elvis tribute artists from around the world. Justin came in first place and
Graceland named him the “World’s Ultimate Elvis!” He is the only Elvis Tribute Artist
to 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, David Letterman ran over to Justin and yelled “Justin, wonderful, wonderful,
do it again, do it again!”
At the Las Vegas Hilton (where the real Elvis once performed), Justin won the
prestigious “Heart of the King Award” and he has also won “Best Elvis Impersonator
of 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
showrooms and voted by the people as the finest Elvis Tribute
Artist 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, David captures every era of “The King” from That’s
Allright Mama in 1954 through all the great Sun, RCA and movie
hits onto Elvis’ resurgence from 1968 - 1977 with such songs as
Edge of Reality, In The Ghetto and Suspicious Minds.
Susie Elelman has been dubbed the darling of daytime
television. Sitting beside with Bert Newtown for almost nine
years on Good Morning Australia, regularly going head-to-head
with 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. She is an author, columnist and has been an Australia Day
Ambassador 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.
Scott McGregor has been involved in the media for over 30
years as an actor, presenter, writer and producer. Graduating
from NIDA in 1979, he appeared in a wide range of stage, film
and 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