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BREAKING NEWS |
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Plant and equipment from failed Golf Caravans will be auctioned at
its former factory in Lawnton, Brisbane, on December 1. Nearly 370
lots will fall under the hammer, but no
caravans are listed in the auctioneer's catalogue.
Builder of high quality caravans closes factory

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| Ms
Mendoza |
ANOTHER major builder of high
quality caravans has hit troubled times. Queensland-based Golf
Caravans, which has been manufacturing caravans for more than three
decades, has stopped production. Its factory at Lawnton on
Brisbane's northside has been closed and the company's website
disabled. Workers are understood to have been told to look for other
jobs. Caravanning News was unable to contact a company
spokesperson but an industry insider told us: "Golf is still hopeful
that it will continue, though at the moment it is not looking good."
The shock news comes after several other leading caravanning
manufacturers and importers were forced to pull down the shutters
this year as orders dried up in the global economic downturn.
Perth-based Fleetwood Corporation slashed production by half as
sales took a dive. Golf was founded 34 years ago and became renowned
for innovation and quality manufacturing using the latest technology.
The company changed hands two years ago when it was bought by
Brisbane-based Majyk Pty Ltd. Ironically, new boss Kerin Mendoza
earlier this year donated a $50,000 Golf Bushman to a major caravan show in Sydney
where magician Matt Hollywood made it 'disappear'.
Now, it seems, the entire Golf business has
disappeared from the scene. Ms Mendoza
– who was understood to be in Papua New Guinea when Caravanning
News went to press –
admitted to Sydney showgoers that times were difficult for caravan
manufacturers, adding that a new and experienced management team had
been appointed to guide Golf Caravans through "challenging times"
ahead. |
Shock as premiums soar
by up to 40 percent
Nation's natural disasters bring
massive insurance hikes for caravanners
CARAVANNERS are reeling in the wake of massive increases in their
insurance bills.
Travellers are being asked to fork out up to
40 percent more in premiums as insurance companies attempt to recoup
some of their losses after hefty payouts following a series of natural
disasters in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
One dumbfounded grey nomad
told Caravanning News: "I was flabbergasted when my renewal
notice arrived ... they wanted to up my premium by hundreds of dollars.
Are they trying to force us poor pensioners off the road or something?"
Meanwhile, the insurance industry blames this year's combination of
floods, bushfires, storms and the global financial crisis for the
increases ... and warns that premiums could continue rising.

'We are just being
over cautious'
Wheel nut safety fears prompt Jayco recall
By DENNIS AMOR
AUSTRALIA's biggest caravan manufacturer is
recalling hundreds of caravans after fears that wheels could come adrift.
But Jayco, who builds almost 50 percent of the nation's
recreational vehicles, says the move "is not a serious issue".
The Victoria-based company has told owners of caravans,
pop-tops and campers with chassis numbers between L10096 and L71673 to
return them to their local dealers.
According to the Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission there are concerns that wheels could "dislodge" after being
manufactured with incorrect wheel nuts.
But Jayco marketing manager Andrew Ryan told
Caravanning News: "As with all recalls, we initiate the recall and
notify the ACCC. The wheel nut issue is purely a slight variance and is
not a serious issue.
"As safety is a huge priority at Jayco we are just
being over cautious."
Mr Ryan said only "a few hundred" caravans were
affected and over 60 percent had already been fixed.
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TOURING COSTS IN THE CAN
BRUCE and Kaye Kirkbride's pastime has turned into
a roving cottage industry which helps pay for their caravanning
adventures around Australia. Their colourful aeroplanes and hats
fashioned from aluminium drinks cans go a long way towards meeting
caravan site fees and fuel costs as they meander across the
country.
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Aspen Parks shakes off negative market pressures PERTH-based Aspen Parks continues to perform well despite negative
market pressures, it has been revealed.
According to the parent group's 2009 annual report just released, Aspen
Parks was a "significant contributor" during the financial year and
continued to provide a "sound level of underlying income from its maturing
and well diversified asset base".

Travellers toey on compulsory towing training THE vexed question of whether caravanners should undergo compulsory
towing courses before being allowed on the road has divided members of an
on-line forum.
Some toey travellers believe they are experienced enough to haul their
caravans, making training unnecessary. But others suggest it should
become mandatory to help reduce the rising number of caravan-related
accidents on our highways.

New park set to welcome festive holidaymakers AN army of tradesmen is working flat out in a bid to have a
new caravan park at a popular Queensland seaside town open in time for the
festive season.
Brisbane-based 1770 Group bought the prime beachfront site
at Agnes Water after plans for a plush resort fell through.

Five vie for top park honour FIVE caravan
parks will be vying for a top honour in this month's WA Tourism Awards.
Beachlands Holiday Park, Busselton; Coral Coast Tourist Park, Carnarvon;
Exmouth Cape Holiday Park, Exmouth; Peppermint Park Eco Village, Busselton,
and Woodman Point Holiday Park, Fremantle, are all finalists in the
Tourist and Caravan Parks category.
Abandoned caravan a stark reminder of outback rigours THE ingrained red
dust and heart-wrenching inscriptions tell the story of a much-loved and
well travelled caravan.
But the remains of the humble Jayco on a desolate, dusty and corrugated
road in the Northern Territory's
wilderness is a stark reminder that the unforgiving outback is not
suitable for all caravans.

Show organisers prepare for visitor surge
ORGANISERS are busy preparing to welcome thousands of visitors to this
year's South Coast Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo in NSW. A
surge of travellers is predicted to flood the event at Mackay Park in Batemans Bay from November 6 to 8 as
people opt for value-for-money
getaways which still offer true Aussie experiences.

Park weighs anchor and sets course on new business venture SOUTH Australian caravan park owners David and Tracey
Mahoney are celebrating after weighing anchor on a new business venture.
Guests at their riverside Waikerie Caravan Park will now
be offered accommodation on board a paddleboat, which they recently
acquired after their tender for the River Murray Queen was
successful.

Police rescue travellers in snow drama
TWO tourists were rescued after their camper trailer became bogged in
snow in Victoria's Alpine National Park.
Police said the New South Wales couple had to be plucked to safety in the
freezing early hours of the morning after they found themselves stranded
near Omeo.

Grey nomad Ian wades into free camping controversy GREY nomad Ian Bond has waded into the fiery debate over whether free
overnight camping should be allowed in Victoria's small Snowy River towns.
Seething caravan park operators have blasted a decision by East Gippsland
Shire councillors to make its area more friendly to grey nomads and other
travellers by offering free camping and other facilities.

Security upgrade after alleged child kidnap bid SECURITY is being stepped up at a West Australian caravan park where a
man allegedly attempted to kidnap a young girl.
Police are still investigating after the six-year-old Perth holidaymaker
said she was grabbed by a man and bundled into his blue sedan at the
entrance to the BIG4 Beachlands Holiday Park in Busselton.

Cats die as inferno destroys pensioner's caravan FOUR purebred cats perished when
a blaze ripped through a disabled
pensioner's home at a Queensland caravan park.
Park owner Kim Little told Caravanning News: "There was nothing
anyone could do, the fire was so fierce."

Horror month of caravan accidents
OCTOBER was a horror month for caravan accidents ... claiming the life of
two grey nomads and putting many other
travellers in hospital.
High winds were suggested as the cause of one
mishap on a busy Queensland highway.
Gated community would cater for grey nomads CARAVANNERS living in a proposed gated community in a small New South
Wales town would be well catered for, it is claimed.
Business couple John and Robyn Pearce has asked Cowra Shire Council for
permission to build the $3 million development ... with facilities for
grey nomads to park their recreational vehicles.

Maitland considers free overnight stays CARAVANNERS and
other travellers may soon be able to overnight in a NSW city for free.
Maitland City Council is investigating the cost of providing grey nomad
facilities for up to 12 caravans and motorhomes, possibly on the
showground or at Smyth Field. Mayor Peter Blackmore, himself a caravan
enthusiast, said his city was well located at the junction of the New
England and Pacific highways for an overnight stop.
New speed alert helps cut confusion CARAVANNERS confused with varying speed limits may find a new
dashboard-mounted speed alert useful.
Simple to use, the devise allows drivers to set the required speed or
lock in the current speed at the touch of a button.

Croc attack prompts urgent police warning A GREY nomad is lucky to be alive after being attacked by a crocodile
in the Northern Territory.
The attack has prompted an urgent police warning for travellers to
use caution when attempting to swim in any body of water in the Territory,
and to pay particular attention to signs indicating the possible
presence of crocodiles.

Report suggests moving flood-prone park LISMORE's
flood-prone caravan park should be closed and moved to a dryer location,
it has been suggested.
A lengthy report into the recovery efforts following the $41 million flood
disaster across New South Wales' North Coast earlier this year recommends
the Lismore Tourist Park near the city centre be relocated.

Caravanners accused of bloomin' bad behaviour CARAVANNERS have
been accused of pilfering an outback town's flower beds ... for a feed of
vegies. According to the mayor of Charleville in Queensland, they have
been stealing spinach which has been planted among the blooms in the main street's garden
beds to achieve a greener look during the drought. "They take it back to
the caravan park and cook it up," Mayor Mark O'Brien complains.
Nestle Inn Village sells at auction for $9.2m BRISBANE'S
Nestle Inn Village caravan park, which recorded a million-dollar profit
last year, has sold at auction for $9.225 million.
The 7ha tourist and relocatable home park was snapped up by a Brisbane
company and will continue in its current role.

Campgrounds undergo $1.5m facelift FIVE of the most popular campgrounds in
Victoria's Grampians National Park have had a major $1.5 million upgrade. The
improvements will
make camping more comfortable and enjoyable for everyone, including
caravanners and other travellers.

Booming orders at show a good sign: RVMAA EXHIBITORS chalked up a 20 percent rise in sales at last month's major
leisure show in Victoria, it has been revealed.
Crowd numbers at the Leisurefest Outdoor Leisure and Lifestyle Expo in
Sandown rose by 10 percent and many companies reported healthy order
books.

Airflow's unique caravan a showstopper AN innovative new caravan which "bows" to allow easy access for the
disabled proved a showstopper when it made its public debut in
Queensland.
Showgoers at the recent Caravan Trades Industry
Association of Queensland end-of-year sale in Brisbane made a beeline for
the Airflow Caravans stand to get their first glimpse of the novel design.

Island park may reopen in time for festive
season KANGAROO Island's old caravan park at Penneshaw in South Australia
could be open in time for the festive holiday break. Closed for the
last six years, a consortium has acquired the site and is seeking planning
permission to reopen the park for permanent residences and holidaymakers.
For stories from the
last six editions of Caravanning News, click on the appropriate
month:
Editor: Dennis Amor PO Box 678
Caloundra Queensland 4551 Australia
Click to send email
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Web pages designed and produced by Dennis Amor
No part of this
publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the prior
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Copyright 2005
Dennis Amor All Rights Reserved
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MORE and more caravanners are turning to Caravanning News to keep
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Broadside for opponents
of free-camping along Snowy River
MY wife and I are overnighting at Orbost on Nov 15
and were planning to free camp on the riverside at Marlo.
However, given Mr Canham's positive attitude to the option of free
camping for RVers (click here for full story)
I would be happy to support his caravan park. Considering the
attitude of other parks in the area, maybe it is time they changed
careers. We certainly don't plan on spending our money in their
establishments. Just for the record, we are very conscious of
spending money in small towns so that places will still be there
when we go back, or telling our fellow RVers about the friendliest
town or the best fish and chips. I would appreciate it you could
pass on our support to Mr Canham and the East Gippsland Shire
councillors.
Chevy Badman via
email
Some will, some won't
...
OUR names are Dave and Diane Macdonald and we live at
Gin Gin in Queensland. We bought a new Jayco 19.61-4 in August and
plan to spend a fair amount of time travelling. The 'van is just
great and hasn't had any problems. I have been on the caravan forums
lately and came across a link to Caravanning News. I have
read all the back issues of the news and they are very interesting.
I find the topic of councils being friendly to RVs quite amazing.
When we stayed at the Neville Hewitt Weir we met one of the
councillors as we were getting more supplies in town. He was telling
us how he had a few problems implementing the free site and
convincing all concerned that it was the way to go. The local
caravan park owner was not happy, claiming it was taking customers
away from him. But the councillor explained that a lot of people
would not come out there just to stay in his park. Some will, some
won't. We like bush camping and only stay in parks when we have to.
Dave Macdonald.
News
provides
great reading
I AM the Secretary of the Fraser Coast Caravan
Club. Thank goodness someone has created a site for us "grey nomads"
to refer to.
Barrie Sibson Hervey Bay
• • • •
THANKS for providing Caravanning
News. I find it a great read.
Grant Cumming
• • • •
I FIND Caravanning News a great site
with lots of news.
Rodney May Burpengary
Roadstar on order
IT WAS
great reading about Roadstar (click here to read
full story) and I was so impressed by what you said about Hitec
and Ken Nizman that I (we) decided to go and order one yesterday at
the Brisbane Camping and Caravan show. All the best to them. I will
let you know how the 'van goes, but that won't be until April.
That's the earliest we can get one. Looks like others think the same
as us. Top quality and a great price.
Kev and June Pearson
Queensland.
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