Parkes

By day, Maria Phillips is the chief financial and operating officer of a technology firm. By night and on weekends, she performs her Elvis Presley tribute act under the name Platinum Elvis.

Pop culture

They spend thousands on Elvis costumes and jewellery. But don’t call them impersonators

They’ve been laughed at, ignored and unable to get gigs – but now these female Elvis Tribute Acts are leaving their male competitors all shook up.

3 months ago
Bronte Gossling

Latest

A ‘We are not Sydney’s dumping ground’ banner on the outskirts of Parkes opposing the proposed Parkes Energy From Waste site. The Wiradyuri people alongside many of Parkes residents oppose the proposed $1.5 billion incinerator that will have the capacity to process 600,000 tonnes of Sydney waste per year. Parkes, NSW. December 5, 2025. Photo: Kate Geraghty

Pollution

Could this town solve Sydney’s waste problem? Locals don’t think so

A plan to generate electricity by burning 600,000 tonnes of Sydney’s waste near a western NSW town has locals worried about their health and livelihoods.

December 7, 2025
Angus Thomson

Updated
Domestic violence

Molly Ticehurst’s heartbreaking text revealed after killer finally confesses

Daniel Billings killed Ticehurst while on bail for serious alleged attacks on the young mother, who lived in fear and foresaw her own murder.

November 14, 2025
Sally Rawsthorne, Perry Duffin and Stephanie Gardiner

Bernie Peri of Parkes was allegedly murdered after a karaoke night.

Crime

Beloved Elvis impersonator allegedly murdered after karaoke night

Bernie Peri, a talented singer and fixture of the Parkes Elvis Festival, was found dead in his home. Police allege his killer is a fellow musician.

November 13, 2024
Jessica McSweeney

A man has been found dead in a home on Boori Street, Peak Hill, north of Parkes yesterday.

Crime

Man charged with murder after body found in home near Parkes

The man was arrested in connection with the death of another man whose body was found at a property in Peak Hill in the state’s Central West on Sunday morning.

March 13, 2023
Olivia Ireland

Elvis impersonators board the train to Parkes

Music festivals

Parkes, Aloha! Elvis has left the station, in all his glorious guises

Hundreds of Elvis impersonators flocked to Sydney’s Central Station on Thursday morning to board the train to Parkes, for the town’s annual festival celebrating the king.

January 5, 2023
Billie Eder

Tony Coulston was a gregarious publican from the NSW town of Parkes.

Investigation
Hospitals in crisis

Doctors left dying dad ‘spouting blood’ after horror hospital fall

Of five potentially preventable deaths at hospitals across regional NSW uncovered by a Herald investigation, only one is under investigation by the coroner.