YOUNG dad Cam Dubin, who has just completed an 18-month
around-Australia caravanning adventure with his Asperger's son, has admitted there were days when
he had regrets.
"Being somewhat removed from society and the 'norm' has had a massive
effect on me as a person ... be it good or bad," the former childcare
worker said.
Single parent Cam, who now lives with Jaiden on an eight-acre property at Blackbutt in Queensland, told Caravanning News before setting off
on their adventures in 2013 that he believed a life on the road would help the
then four-year-old overcome many of the problems associated with his mild
form of austism.
After quitting his job and selling all his possessions, they set
off from Queensland in an ageing 14ft poptop hauled by a 2001 AUII 4L
Fairmont GHIA wagon. Cam was 29.
"It's been a hell of an adventure," he writes on his Facebook page
chronicling the couple's epic journey.
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FLASHBACK: Cam and Jaiden featured in Caravanning News
before their epic journey. |
"We've been stuck in the middle of cyclones, had failed gearboxes in the
middle of nowhere, tyre blowouts at 90km/h, leaky caravan roofs, my $2000
bike stolen, been through three cars, failed laptops, TV, iPad and so on,"
he said.
"On the flip side, I've met the most amazingly generous people on my
travels, I really have.
"I've shared some laughs, serious conversations, shed tears and made
several lifelong friends ... hopefully more.
"I've been welcomed into strangers' houses, had strangers loan me cars and
so on.
"The offers of assistance really did mean the world to me whilst I was
thousands of kilometres away from my friends and any kind of familiarity."
Cam said the biggest motivation behind the trip was his son, and there was
no doubt it had helped him enormously.
"I don't really know what to say, other than Jaiden is a mere shadow of
the child he used to be," he explained.
"From hating the noise of the beach and texture of sand ... to loving the
beach and loving surfing.
"From needing a constant routine ... to him encouraging spontaneity,
daily."
Cam said Jaiden's daily progress continued to "astound" him.
"But this comes a distant second to the connection we now share, a far cry
from the 'glorified cook and cleaner' I was whilst working full time.
"I really can't put into words how my world lights up when he wakes up,
wanders over to my bed, greets me with a smile, asks 'did you have a good
good sleep dad?' ‒ always two goods ‒ and climbs into bed for a
20/30-minute cuddle.
"Back in my previous life we'd nearly be out the door after 30 minutes at
6:15am.
"I now feel Jaiden has a 'father' rather than a disconnected stress-head
room-mate that cooks and cleans for him, with a trip to the park or
somewhere fun on the weekend ... after household chores, of course."
Cam admits that travelling with a child on the autism spectrum certainly
was not the easiest thing he has ever done.
"But I'd do it all again given the chance," he said.
