HE IS always on her mind, his ring tone is on her phone, his face is engraved on her novelty soaps and Elvis super-fan Di Ainsworth loves it when The King is the talk of her town.
Charlestown is gearing up to host the fourth annual Hunter Elvis Festival from November 17-19 and rock ‘n’ roll monarchist Di will again be on hand selling her odd but charming assortment of Elvis gear.
The 62-year-old Mount Hutton resident is such a huge Elvis fan she has two tattoos on each forearm – one of his signature and one quoting the smash hit song title Always on my Mind.
She has even been immortalised at Graceland, with her good friend Helen Mason writing her name on the visitors wall during a visit.
Di has run her stall at the festival since its inception, selling a wacky assortment of items including Mrs Elvis Presley mugs, polo shirts, candles with their own distinct Elvis fragrance and even hand-made Elvis soap. All items are hand made, mostly by her, with some items contributed by a good friend.
Di has been an Elvis fan since childhood.
She said her obsession started when her family got its first TV. While her brothers and sisters loved watching the up-and-coming singers and rock ‘n’ rollers, Di only had eyes for The King.
For her 16th birthday, she received a record player and two Elvis albums, one including the classic Love Me Tender.
“With me it was just Elvis, Elvis and nothing else,” Di said.
“You could get the meaning of every song. He was just so passionate about every song he sang.”
She still remembers the day she heard the shocking news of his death in 1977.
“I was home and different members of the family kept ringing to see how I was. They knew I’d be absolutely devastated.”
Elvis’s memory lives on at the festival.
This year’s event will offer a diverse program of entertainment including a headline performance by internationally acclaimed Elvis tribute artist Mark Andrew on the Saturday evening.
Other highlights include the Elvis Meets the Beatles show starring John Collins at 3.30pm on the Sunday at Charlestown Bowling Club, and the always popular free Elvis concert in Speers Point Park, also on the Sunday.
There will also be a classic car show, market stalls, an Elvis tribute competition, rock ‘n’ roll dancing and a variety of other activities fit for The King- or members of his royal court.
“There’s just so much happening the whole time,” Di said.
The festival will take place at Charlestown Bowling Club and Speers Point Park.