July 2010

Turnaround for former rundown park

Killarney celebrates after collecting tourism awards

Gary and Trudy Grant: First timers

A QUEENSLAND caravan park is celebrating after being honoured at the 2010 Warwick Chamber of Commerce Heritage Building Society Business Excellence Awards.

Owners of the Killarney View Cabins and Caravan Park Gary and Trudy Grant collected the Tourism and Hospitality Award and also took out the Highly Commended Award.

"We were very excited to win the awards," Trudy told Caravanning News. "Gary and I are very proud of our park."

The couple bought the rundown park nearly four years ago and have worked hard turning it into an inviting three-and-a-half star destination which last year won the Caravan Park Association of Queensland's prestigious Turnaround Award.

The five-acre park is now famed for its Sunday morning pancake breakfast.

"It used to be free but we now ask for a gold coin donation," Trudy explained. "We have donated this money to breast cancer research, CareFlight and just last month we donated $857.20 to the Killarney Memorial Aged Care to buy a Pro-Med weighing device which is used to weigh bedridden patients."

Gary and Trudy are first timers to the caravan park industry, Gary formerly being a chef and his wife a financial planner.

"This was a big green change for us," Trudy said. "Even though the park was rundown we could see its potential ... the Killarney area is a beautiful part of Queensland.

"I think the park has even outdone our expectations and the word of mouth-is-getting out there with many return visitors and referred guests, Our cabins are very popular because they are situated to make the most of the great views."