CARAVANNING NEWS - May 2010 edition


LINKS	REST AREAS	CARAVAN MANUFACTURERS	OWNERS' FORUMS	FUEL PRICES	CARAVAN CLUBS	ED'S HOME PAGE
Queensland outback	Carnarvon Gorge	Moore Park Beach turtles	Sydney circular	Santa's trip	Formula One interlude	Imbil

Brisbane Weather Forecast, Australia

May 2010

BREAKING NEWS

MAY 31: Elderly couple's fifth wheeler and truck wrecked at BIG4 Island View Beach caravan park when tree fell during wild winds at Naroom, southern NSW.
MAY 27: Caravan overturns on remote Lasseter Hwy near Erldunda roadhouse in Northern Territory.
MAY 27: Land tax on WA caravan parks to be abolished on July 1. Park homes and camping grounds will also receive the 100 percent exemption.
MAY 26: Couple lucky to escape after car and caravan roll on Stuart Highway north of Tennant Creek in Northern Territory.
MAY 25: Man, 37, taken to hospital with burns after gas explosion in poptop caravan at Dicky Beach, Caloundra, Queensland.
MAY 22: Woman dies when her car collides with caravan rig on Pacific Highway near Bangalow in NSW. Seven people taken to hospital, one by helicopter.
MAY 22: Vandals cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to eight caravans at Warburtons sales yard in Bundaberg, Queensland.
MAY 21: Caravan parks in Darwin may be used to accommodate asylum seekers, it has been revealed.
MAY 20: Police anxious to speak to caravanner who may be witness to head-on smash in which three people were injured on Western Hwy near Trawalla, Victoria.
MAY 17: More than 200 people attend protest rally against plans for resort-style development at Seal Rocks Caravan Park on NSW mid-north coast.
MAY 12: Protesters opposing change at Seal Rocks caravan park in NSW to stage public meeting at Number One Beach carpark on May 15 at 11am.
MAY 11: Woman taken to hospital after 4WD towing poptop caravan overturns on Bruce Highway south of Childers, Queensland.
MAY 10: Woman, 62, dies after being crushed between caravan and garage wall at Goolwa near Victor Harbor, SA.
MAY 5: Campaign against draft plan of management for Seal Rocks Caravan Park on NSW mid-north coast gathering momentum.
MAY 2: Motorcyclist, 26, and boy, 7, taken to hospital after 4WD hauling Jayco caravan crashes into petrol station at Collinswood, Adelaide.

Jessica Watson approaches Sydney

BRAVE JESSICA SAILS HOME

CARAVANNING News salutes pint-size schoolgirl and sailor Jessica Watson, daughter of a former Sunshine Coast caravanning family. The plucky 16-year-old from Buderim proved just how tall she really is when she sailed into Sydney Harbour to complete her solo, unassisted and non-stop 42,000km round-the-world voyage in her 10m pink yacht, Ella's Pink Lady.

Go Storm! says company's amended website

Manufacturer's logo elevated to shirt

By DENNIS AMOR

JAYCO's logo and name now appears in all its glory on the front of the disgraced Melbourne Storm rugby club's shirt.

And it has reportedly not cost the Dandenong-based caravan manufacturer, a huge supporter of sport in Australia and Australia's biggest builder of recreational vehicles, an extra cent to become a major sponsor and have its name in a prime position on the team's strip.

Jayco – a backer of Storm since the team was founded in 1998 – was a platinum sponsor for many years, its distinctive logo occupying a place on the front of team shorts.

But this was switched to the back for the start of the 2010 season, and then suddenly to the club jersey after the salary cap scandal, which saw major sponsors HOSTPLUS and ME Bank drop links with the team.

Jayco's managing director and founder Gerry Ryan is a board member of Melbourne Storm, once one of the most valuable sponsorship properties on the country's sporting scene.

Storm has been stripped of its 2007 and 2009 premiership titles and lost all competition points for the current season after seriously breaching salary cap rules.

Jayco has now amended its website to read: "Jayco have had a long association with the Melbourne Storm. A number of players and their partners choose to regularly use a Jayco when they want to get away for rests between seasons to explore the country. Go Storm!"

FUGITIVE ARRESTED AFTER QUEENSLAND CARAVAN PARKS ALERT

FUGITIVE Cameron Mansell has been arrested after caravan parks in Queensland were placed on alert. An arrest warrant was in force for the tall 38-year-old hotelier, wanted in connection with the alleged murder of Perth millionaire Craig Puddy. Mr Mansell was captured while camping in bushland near the tiny township of Paluma, about 80km north of Townsville. Police believed he could have been staying at caravan parks as he made his way to the NT. Mr Mansell was taken to the Townsville watchhouse and is expected to be extradited to WA.

Workmates tell of 'kind and gentle' dad who killed kids
WORKMATES of a Melbourne caravan builder who killed his three children and then himself have spoken of a "kind and gentle" father. One shocked former colleague of Rajesh Osborne, known to his mates as Roger and Eddie, told Caravanning News he still could not take in the horror of what had happened. Another told of how he bought chocolates for his children on the day of the tragedy.

Couples set for all-expenses paid dream trip
CARAVANNERS and other travellers will set off on an all-expenses paid dream road trip around Australia next month. The three lucky couples have been chosen to act as ambassadors for leading leisure products company Dometic in its Follow The Sun promotion.

Geist gathering a success
PLANS are already well advanced for the second rally of Geist enthusiasts after their recent successful gathering in Victoria. Twenty Geist caravans turned up for the inaugural event at Lindenow South Recreation Reserve, hosted by former national development manager for Geist Caravans in Australia Peter Treasure.

WA parks lead nation in revenue growth
CARAVAN parks in Western Australia recorded Australia's highest revenue growth during the quarter ending December, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures reveal. The news comes as revenue in the caravan and holiday park industry soared by more than seven percent nationally ... with experts predicting the upward trend continuing well into this year.

Vintage caravans will rally on banks of the mighty Murray
CARAVANS from yesteryear will converge on a Victorian caravan park this month for a national rally. More than 60 of the classic 'old ladies of the road' from all over Australia will assemble on the banks of the mighty Murray River on May 10.

ACCC issues alert over incorrect tyres
THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a recall notice after fears some Jayco poptop caravans may have been fitted with wrong tyres. The national alert affects poptops with chassis numbers between K52111 andL52494. About 50 were fitted with incorrect tyres based on the overall weight of the caravan. Owners are urged to contact their Jayco dealer so caravans can be inspected and any incorrect tyres replaced.

Police attacked at Calliope rest area
FRIGHTENED caravanners cowered as a woman allegedly attacked police at a Queensland rest area. Officers were responding to a disturbance at Calliope River camping area near Gladstone, Queensland. Police said a female officer suffered a suspected broken nose and another was kicked during the incident shortly after midnight. A 39-year-old woman will appear in court on May 13.

Terry to bid farewell to BIG4 chain
THE guiding light who led the BIG4 caravan park and resort chain to its pinnacle of success is leaving for new pastures. After seven years at the helm, Terry Goodall has revealed he will sign off as chief executive officer of the organisation on July 16.

New rules for inflatable pools
INFLATABLE wading pools deeper than 30cm at Queensland caravan parks will have to be fenced under stricter new safety rules to be introduced in the State. And parks with swimming pools will have to acquire a pool safety inspection certificate before being sold or leased after December 1.

CCIA seeks industry development manager
The Caravan and Camping Industry Association of NSW (CCIA) is seeking an industry development manager. The full time position offers a $72,485 salary package and will be based at CCIA's head office at Rosehill Gardens Race Course, Parramatta.

Angry wombat puts man in hospital
CARAVAN dweller Bruce Kringle has forgiven the crazed attacker who put him in hospital with chest, arm, leg and feet injuries. The 60-year-old survivor of last year's horrific Victorian bushfires struggled helplessly for 20 minutes with his assailant ... an out-of-control wombat.

Council reject couple's plea for new caravan park
A COUPLE'S application to turn their NSW farmstay business into a much-needed caravan park has been rejected by the local authority ... despite public support. It was the second time that the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's development assessment panel had knocked back Barry and Shirley Breckenridge's plan for a caravan park at the North Coast town of Wauchope.

Park fees set for the chop
CARAVANNERS have welcomed news that entry fees to Victoria's national parks are being scrapped. The State Government has decided to axe the charges from July 1 ... to encourage people to become more active while enjoying the great outdoors.

Donna Cocking ... president Tireless Donna takes on another role
A LEADING and tireless worker for Western Australia's caravanning industry has been elected head of her local chamber of commerce and industry. Donna Cocking believes her new role as president of the Peel Chamber of Commerce and Industry will "mesh quite beautifully" with her presidency of the Caravan Industry Association of Western Australia.

Inquiry focuses on grey nomads' importance to outback
THE Queensland Government is turning the spotlight on the important role grey nomads play in the state's economy. And its Parliamentary Economic Development Committee hopes its latest initiative will attract more senior caravanners and motorhomers, who are invited to have their say, into the outback.

Randal takes whimsical look at caravans
BRISBANE artist Randal Breen has taken a whimsical and humorous look at caravans. His latest exhibition – My Life As A Caravan – was spawned from the discovery of an old caravan in the shed of his wife’s grandfather, Arthur, who hand-built it in the early 1960s. It was used by the family for annual holidays to Burrum Heads on Queensland's central coast.

No staff shortage as Jayco increases production
GIANT caravan manufacturer Jayco has increased production as Australia's economy continues to haul itself from the doldrums. But the Victorian-based company, which builds nearly half the nation's recreational vehicles, denies it is short of staff to cope with the growing demand.

Crown land returned to traditional owners
ALMOST 30 hectares of Crown land at the Broken Head Nature Reserve in NSW, including the Top Tourist three-star Broken Head caravan park, will be returned to the traditional owners, the Arakwal Land Council. Byron Shire Mayor Jan Barham described it is an "historic agreement".

Gold mining town's park joins national chain
A CARAVAN park in Victoria's former gold mining town of Castlemaine is the latest recruit to the BIG4 national chain of holiday parks. The three-and-a-half star park is owned by locals and former moteliers Tony and Claire Height who say they saw a great opportunity when the small yet spacious park came up for sale.

Dark cloud hovers over Sunshine State showgrounds
A DARK cloud is hovering over the Sunshine State's showgrounds after a State Government clampdown on caravanners and other travellers overnighting there. The Queensland Government has told showground operators they must have management plans in place before it will sanction camping.

Rest area cow has some some hide
MOOO-VE out of the way ... here comes a possible feed! Caravanners arriving at Queensland's popular Apple Tree Creek rest area just north of Childers are bemused to find themselves greeted by a somewhat cheeky and vocal cow seeking scraps of food.

Major power upgrade for GOR park
THE largest caravan and camping ground along Victoria's iconic Great Ocean Road will have a major power upgrade after a $750,000 government grant. A contract for the first stage of the work at the three-and-a-half star Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park, which offers more than 600 annual, seasonal and powered sites, has been awarded to a Geelong company.

Still time to comment on management plans
PEOPLE still have time to air their views on proposed management plans for three New South Wales caravan parks. Draft plans have been drawn up for Jimmy's Beach Caravan Park, Hawks Nest Caravan Park and Seal Rocks Camping Reserve on the State's mid north coast. Now the Land and Property Management Authority and Great Lakes Council are seeking public comment and have given people until May 7 to lodge written submissions. For more information, click here

Flashing beacons Roadside breakdowns: safety in a flash
BREAKING down on the road can present all kinds of hazards for caravanners, but one Australian company is making sure you'll be seen. The Melbourne business is manufacturing flashing beacons which are ideal for stranded caravanners and can easily be stored in a tow vehicle's glove box when not in use.

Caravan park opponents launch fighting fund
HUNDREDS of people are protesting over plans for a new caravan park on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. Local residents have launched a fighting fund so they can engage a legal team to represent them when the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal considers the matter.

Vintage 'van to lead Oyster parade
A VINTAGE caravan belonging to the parents of MasterChef winner Julie Goodwin will take pride of place in a street parade on NSW's far south coast. Julie will lead off this month's Oyster Festival Parade at Narooma with mum and dad Tony and Marlene Hunt and their well-travelled plywood caravan, which was hand-built by Marlene's father in 1956.

Helping you plan your show visits
THOUSANDS of enthusiasts will flock to caravan and camping shows this year. And to help you plan your visits, Caravanning News has compiled a list of dates and venues.

For stories from the last six editions of Caravanning News, click on the appropriate month:


April 2010	March 2010	February 2010	January 2010	December 2009	November 2009

Editor: Dennis Amor
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Caloundra
Queensland 4551
Australia
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MORE and more caravanners are turning to Caravanning News to keep abreast of what's happening in the world of caravanning. Page downloads recently reached 95,000 monthly ... with more than 80 percent of visitors adding us to their favourites, too.

LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR

Overcrowded parks a recipe
for disaster

I REALLY must applaud the Northern Territory fire service for its efforts to raise the safety of some caravan parks (see story here). It's quite incredible how some parks cram in caravans so they can reap in more dollars irrespective of the fire dangers. I have been at some where only centimetres have separated caravans and motorhomes. It's only a matter of time before there will be a disaster at one of these overcrowded caravan parks.

Rob Chater
Queensland

Search for Boroma moulds

AT the weekend I lost the front window shade of our Boroma. Do you know if anyone has the moulds to make a new one? Do you know anyone who may be able to help?

Brian Murray
Horsham, Victoria

Ed's note: Former Boroma staffer Brian Maycock set up a business repairing their caravans after the company closed. He may be able to assist. His contact details are: robertmaycock@bigpond.com

Couple dump
on charges

SINCE entering WA in the past few weeks we have come across dump sites in Norseman and Cervantes where they charge $3 for use. Have never come across this anywhere before.

Bruce and Kay McLellan
Redcliffe, Queensland

Old caravan could be Windsor

REFERRING to identification of the old caravan (click here to see story), I have owned two Millards and both had numbers welded on the A-frame. The first was the year of manufacture and the second was the sequential number for that year ... so 3105 (or 03105) would be year 2003 and number 105 for the year. If it has some numbers that look like this format, it may a Millard but I don't know if they used that practise in the 60s.

Jenny McGrail

WORLD BRIEFS

Garage woes for UK 'vanner

All change at Canada's nude park

A NUDIST park near Winnipeg in Canada, said to be one of the coldest large cities in the world, is suffering from lost business. So it now requires all its campers to wear clothes in a bid to attract more clients. And to shed its old image, Crocus Grove will change its name to the Sandhill Pines Recreational Vehicle Park and Campground after 40 years as a "clothing-optional" park.

INDIAN Tourism Minister Kumari Selja has stressed the importance of caravanning to her country's economy. Fully equipped and modern hire caravans will soon hit Indian roads, with the minister saying: "We recognise the importance of cleanliness, general hygiene and sanitation in making India a memorable tourist destination."

POLICE were called to investigate a killing at a Blackpool caravan in the UK. It appears a Yorkshire terrier was savaged and died after being attacked by a Staffordshire Bull terrior while walking with its owners at the Marton Mere Holiday Village.

A NORTHERN Ireland caravan park owner has been fined about $1500 for failing to display prices on caravans for sale at the Leestone Caravan Park in Kilkeel.

CONVENTIONAL cars in Britain can now haul touring caravans and other trailers up to 2.55m wide - an increase of 0.25m - to bring them in line with European rules.