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May 2009 |
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Photo: Greg
Shield Firemen help
retrieve the caravan after a twister tore through Dunleith Tourist
Park
Three hurt as twister dumps
'van into lake
By DENNIS AMOR
TERRIFIED
caravanners fled for their lives when a mini-tornado ripped through a
four-star caravan park in New South Wales. One caravan was lifted into
the air like a toy and hurled into Tuggerah Lake on the State's Central
Coast as a water spout, or mini-twister, cut a swathe through part of the
attractive 79-site Dunleith Tourist Park at The Entrance, 100km north of
Sydney. "It came in from the ocean and only lasted for about 10 seconds,
but was terrifying for people down by the lake," park manager Cheryl
Carpenter told Caravanning News. Caravanner Greg Shield watched the
twister approach the park, lifting everything in its path. "I looked up
and about 20 metres in the air there was all sorts of debris spinning in
the vortex," he explained. "It lasted only seconds but did so much
damage." Two women, believed to be enjoying a cup of tea in the
14ft caravan when it was tossed into the water, scrambled to safety and,
together with a third woman,
were taken to Gosford Hospital for treatment. Police said a 54-year-old Erina woman
suffered a suspected broken arm, a 57-year-old Raymond Terrace woman had
cuts to her arm while an 88-year-old Gosford woman suffered cuts and
scratches. They had booked into the caravan park for just one night. A man
was also blown into the water but was unharmed. Several annexes were
damaged. Emergency services including police, NSW Fire Brigade, paramedics
and officers from the Volunteer Rescue Association rushed to the park. The
rear-entrance Olympic pop-top caravan was towed from the lagoon as guests and
staff at the park, a member of the Top Tourist chain, began cleaning up.
Ironically, the park's website promises "never a dull moment" and "a stay
to remember".
CREDITORS VOTE TO WIND-UP GEIST
IMPORTER CREDITORS
have voted to liquidate failed Geist caravans importer Oakhurst
International Caravans. They met at the Brisbane offices of Vincents
Chartered Accountants and decided there was no point in attempting
to save the troubled Queensland-based company, which called in
administrators after running up debts of more than $9
million. Liquidator Peter Dinoris told Caravanning News that
"based on the information presently available" it was unlikely
ordinary unsecured creditors would receive any money Travellers flee
smoke-filled caravan
Family
lucky to escape as fire erupts behind fridge By DENNIS AMOR A BRISBANE family on a
round-Australia dream trip had a lucky escape when fire broke out as they
slept in their caravan in the Northern Territory. "It was only a small fire but they were
fortunate to wake up and get themselves out when they did," Tennant Creek's Outback Caravan Park
owner Steve Baldwin told Caravanning News. Gary and Sandy Olsen and their children
Georgia (8) and Hayden (7) were coughing and choking on the deadly smoke and
fumes as they scrambled from their beds and fled their burning caravan in the early
hours of the morning. [More]
Golf
swings into action as orders rise Caravanner badly hurt in tyre-change accident
Benefits scheme aids travellers and traders
Survey puts egg on faces of gloomy Easter pundits
Six caravans stolen from outback property
Late check-ins urged to combat illegal camping
Travellers could benefit from tax workshop
Flush with water after government grant
Family caravan sales buck overseas trend
Two die in caravan accident
Caravan park workers underpaid: Ombudsman
Runaway caravan fails to halt round-Australia travels
Big-hearted caravanners help save lives
For stories from
the last six editions of Caravanning News, click on the
appropriate month:
Web pages designed and produced by Dennis Amor
No part of this
publication may be reproduced or transmitted without Copyright 2005
Dennis Amor |
Questions
I REFER to the ban on caravans at Norval
Park (Caravanning News, April edition). Is this
not discrimination against caravan owners etc? Also who passed, or
had a finger in the pie, to make this decision? Was it a tent owner
or camper trailer owner rather than a caravan owner? The answers may
have no bearing ... but would be interesting. Could there be a
conflict of interest or is it all ok? Just questions. Not bothered
personally because if they do not want us there being caravan owners
then we simply won't go there and won't spend any money there
either. We will spend up where they appreciate having our money and
our company. Bad experience leaves its mark
TWO years ago we tried to stay in Mackay during winter. We went to
the local information centre hoping they would assist us but were
told everything was booked out and that we could not stop anywhere
in town, not even for the night! We were wanting to have a break
from travelling and hoping to take in the sights, along with
stocking up on groceries. Because of the lack of effort and
assistance we did the only honorable thing and that was to take the
main road out of town. Our experience in Mackay has left its mark on
us and the only time you will see us in this town is when we pass
through it. I would not even stop for fuel as I would feel far more
comfortable spending our money in places that support true
travelers. Praise for parking CONGRATULATIONS to Warwick
for providing parking facilities for us grey nomads (Caravanning News,
April edition). It's a pity more towns don't follow the example and
consider caravanners when planning their carparks. I've lost count of
the number of times I have been forced to leave towns without stopping
because I couldn't find anywhere to park my long rig. Bring
back the good old days! WHAT is happening to
Australia? The increase of mean spirited people we are producing really
has me wondering about how miserable this country's people are becoming.
I'd like to bring back the 'good old days' when people actually cared
about, and actually liked, each other. It looks to me as though we are
adopting the attitudes of the Eastern countries where fighting and
arguing is the norm. It's 'every man for himself' now rather than the
good old 'love thy neighbour' attitudes of yesterday. So sad to watch it
happening. Keeping
up GOOD
website with interest in the RV world. I am able to keep up with all
the news in the caravan world thanks to this website. Hope Roadstar
can start up again. Barry
Simmons
Bravery ... with or without
award
IT is with great surprise
that I read your article titled ‘Heroes receive bravery award after
caravan park drama’ in the April issue of
Caravanning News. My partner Bradley Rasborsek was a
main witness at the tragedy that took place at the Wooli Caravan Park in
January 2006. Bradley initiated CPR on the victim and continued to do so
with the assistance of Michael Rogan until emergency services arrived.
There is no doubt that what Michael Rogan and Tony Cameron did at the
scene was courageous. However, it should also be acknowledged that the
actions carried out by Bradley along with David Bender and Georgina
Dicks were as equally brave. The main reason I write this response is
that the article does not truly represent all the witnesses involved and
their heroic actions, and I personally would like to acknowledge them
for their bravery ... with or without an award.
Rachael Humphreys |
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WORLD BRIEFS |
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Crackdown as caravan thefts soar to 1400
POLICE recovered seven stolen caravans
during a massive clampdown on crime in Scotland. Every caravan park in
Galloway was visited by officers during the Easter break as figures
revealed 1400 touring-type caravans are stolen in the UK every year. A COUPLE fled their stalled motorhome just seconds before a high-speed freight train ploughed into it on a railway crossing at Burlingame in California, USA. CARAVANS International Munro in New Zealand has announced plans to lay off more than 60 workers as the global recession bites hard..
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR Campfire weekend hot entertainment CONGRATULATIONS to the committee who ran this year's Drovers Campfire at Boggabri, NSW, over the Anzac weekend. This is our third attendance of this event and it gets better every year. It's a relaxing weekend with country folk who are encouraging us caravanners and motorhome people to stop in their town. You couldn't ask for a more friendly crowd of people. On Friday night we were entertained by Tom Maxwell - country music at its best. The pipe band entertained whilst we had tea on both Friday and Saturday, and the locals put on a great show round the campfire on Saturday night. You had to be there to see the guys who had been shearing etc that afternoon, doing "ballet dancing"! Well done everyone ... see you all next year.
Sylvia and the Velcro Mob How crazy THOSE geniuses in Bundaberg Regional Council's corridors of power should really get their act together. First they said they were providing facilities for grey nomads at Norval Park ... and at the same time banned caravans and motorhomes there. Now I've discovered one of the council's signs at the Sharon rest area on the Gin Gin road out of Bundaberg ... which announces that 24hr overnight stays are permitted, but NOT 4WDs! How crazy is THAT when you consider most grey nomads and travellers use 4WDs to haul their caravans. Greg Hamilton Queensland |
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More visitors flock to NSW Supershow
Caravan parks leap into cyberspace
Curtain
set to rise on grey nomads
Angry caravanners blast council ban
Keeping in touch while on the road
Police warn on internet scams
