CARAVANNING NEWS - November 2009 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

November 2009

BREAKING NEWS

NOVEMBER 30: Man, 53, rushed to hospital after being found with stab wounds to chest at Kawungan caravan park, Hervey Bay, Queensland.

NOVEMBER 28: Woman dies as fire destroys caravan at Oasis Caratel Caravan Park in Gorokan, NSW. Another person rushed to hospital.

NOVEMBER 23: Near-new caravan destroyed by fire in garage at Warrnambool's Golden Springs Court, Victoria.

NOVEMBER 23: Drama at Sunshine Coast's Mooloolaba Beach Caravan Park when driver's sandal became caught in accelerator, sending his motorhome plunging over sand dunes towards ocean. No one hurt.

NOVEMBER 22: Legendary Victorian caravanner Arthur Pullin dies in sleep, aged 103.

NOVEMBER 20: Gold Awards go to NSW Caravan, Camping, 4WD and Holiday Supershow and the BIG4 Deniliquin Paringa Holiday Park in NSW Tourism Awards.

NOVEMBER 20: Recreational Vehicle Manufacturers Association of Australia welcomes new government initiative to penalise importers and manufacturers of unsafe caravans.

NOVEMBER 20: Importers and local manufacturers of unsafe caravans could face huge fines under new Australian safety standards introduced today.

NOVEMBER 19: Raging bushfire forces evacuation of Pine Point Caravan Park in South Australia.

NOVEMBER 17: Grey nomad couple escape unhurt when caravan flips on Gore Highway near Toowoomba in Queensland.

NOVEMBER 16: Moves underway to ensure Warmun Caravan Park is exempt from proposed ban on alcohol in WA's east Kimberley community.

November 14: Brisbane Holiday Village voted Sunshine State's best caravan park at last night's Queensland Tourism Awards. Caravanning Queensland CEO Ron Chapman received Marie Watson-Blake Award for his outstanding contribution to tourism.

NOVEMBER 12: Man taken to hospital after caravan blaze at Top Tourist Lakeside Caravan Park in Ballina, NSW.

NOVEMBER 12: About 30 Geist caravans from failed importer Oakhurst International Caravans will fall under auctioneer's hammer at Airport Auctions in Milperra, Sydney, on Nov 14. "We are auctioning on behalf of a major finance company. All vans are to be sold unreserved and must be sold," spokesman Jason Fitzgerald told Caravanning News.

NOVEMBER 12: Lismore Council in NSW seeking expressions of interest for the sale or lease of the 38-site Nimbin Caravan Park.

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

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

By DENNIS AMOR

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.

Bruce Kirkbridge with a squadron of tin can 'planes

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.

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.

Agnes Water caravan park 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.

Ian Bond and wife Ellen 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:


October 2009	September 2009	August 2009	July 2009	June 2009	May 2009

Editor: Dennis Amor
PO Box 678
Caloundra
Queensland 4551
Australia
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NEWS DOWNLOADS REACH 95,000 MONTHLY

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

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.

WORLD BRIEFS

Caravan holidays set to curry favour with travellers

INDIA's Ministry of Tourism has released a new policy guideline to promote caravan tourism in the country. It says: "Considering the diverse tourism products and the multitude of landscapes in India, caravans and caravan parks have a potential to add an exciting new facet to tourism in incredible India."

Gold prospectors are setting up camp in their caravans as more and more people flood into the East Fork of the San Gabriel River in California. The economic crisis has resulted in more people looking for gold in the river.

THE son of an English businessman who once used a rare 1950 West Bromwich-built Jensen convertible to tow his caravan on family holidays has tracked down the car. Later owned by Hollywood star Gregory Peck and author Clive Cussler, the four-litre Jensen is now in Germany and David Pond, 68, hopes to buy it.

SCOTTISH judo coach David Wright has been jailed for five-and-a-half years for a sex attack on a nine-year-old boy on a caravan holiday in Brittany, northern France. The sex fiend, 40, had befriended the boy with lollies.

HOLIDAYMAKERS are being invited to indulge their 'wanderlust' in a 1940s caravan in Wales. Located in Rhayader, the showman's 'van boasts a kitchen, living room and bedroom. and can be booked from around $300 for two nights.

A MASSIVE thunderstorm sent people running for their lives when it hit Cape Town's Strand at Kay's caravan park in South Africa. Trees were uprooted and buildings smashed by what one witness described the "loudest thunderstom ever heard in Cape Town".