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FIVE HURT IN HIGHWAY HEAD-ON SMASH

FIVE people were taken to hospital after two almost identical Nissan Patrols, one towing a caravan, crashed head-on in New South Wales. One caravanner was cut from the wreckage after the accident on the Barrier Highway east of Broken Hill. The injured were ferried to Broken Hill Hospital but miraculously none was seriously hurt.

Major milestone as RVMAA chalks up 500th audit

Battle continues to ferret out rogue RV builders

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THE caravan industry's peak body is continuing its relentless battle to ferret out rogue caravan builders.

The Recreational Vehicle Manufacturers Association of Australia says it has reached "a major milestone" in its campaign to ensure members comply with all safety rules and regulations.

Compliance auditor Graeme Funder recently conducted the RVMAA's 500th inspection when he visited a manufacturer's factory in outer Melbourne.

Audits are conducted twice a year at each member's premises in a bid to ensure their products comply with every Australian design rule and Australian standard applying to caravans and RVs.

Forum tributes after Pat's passing

TRIBUTES were flowing into Australia's biggest caravanning forum after the death of Pat Davey. Although being struck down with Alzheimer’s disease and a stroke which left her without speech and unable to show any emotion, Pat amazed her caravanning friends as she travelled in her specially adapted 28ft caravan until several weeks before her death. She died peacefully at her NSW home with 76-year-old husband John, who was her constant companion and cared for her 24 hours a day during their travels around Australia, at her side. The couple had been married for nearly 60 years.

Caravan reduced to ashes

A PILE of ashes and twisted metal is all that remains of a caravan belonging to a pair of unlucky Queensland grey nomads. The Dulaccca couple had only recently finished renovating their ageing Viscount caravan and were 200km into their latest trip when it was consumed by flames at Surat. The elderly travellers were not injured. The caravan was not insured and to add to their woes, the man had left his wallet inside the caravan before it was burnt out. Witness Peter Brown told Caravanning News: "I could see plumes of black smoke and assumed a council burn off had got out of hand. We drove down to the river only to discover that ashes was all that remained of the old 'van. I went to see the owners and to offer what assistance I could, which was virtually negligible except for a cup of coffee." It is believed an electrical fault may have caused the inferno. Have your say

Expo visitors shake off stock market blues
CARAVANNERS appear to be shaking off reports of stock market doom and gloom, if the results of a major NSW leisure show are anything to go by. In fact, speculation that the volatility of the stock market would affect sales at the 13th Penrith Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo were quickly put to rest. Organisers said it had been an outstanding success, with many exhibitors suggesting it was the best yet.

Tech-savvy nomads boost wireless internet figures
TECHNOLOGY-savvy grey nomads have helped boost the number of mobile wireless internet connections across the nation. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed there are now more mobile wireless users than DSL connections in Australia for first time. And the news comes as more and more grey nomads hit the road with their computers and wireless modems so they can keep in touch with family and friends back home.

Dineen signs 10-year leasing deal
NEW South Wales-based Dineen Tourism Management has struck a deal with Cobar Shire Council to lease the 100-site Cobar Caravan Park in NSW. The 10-year deal also includes two five-year options which could extend the agreement to a maximum of 20 years. Improvements are planned which will include developing the vacant area within the park, which offers two sets of amenities, a laundry, camp kitchen and barbeque area. Have your say

Testing times for wannabe caravanners
MORE and more would-be caravanners are turning to a Queensland company so they can get a taste of the lifestyle before they buy. Private Caravan Hire business manager Pamela Egan said many people were now hiring caravans before splurging tens of thousands of dollars on a new one. "They are renting with the intention of testing before they buy," she told Caravanning News.

US-built caravan sales booming
VICTORIA-based American RV importer Cell Caravans reports booming sales. And managing director Graeme Ryland could not be happier with the way his Campbellfield company is progressing. "When I started this business over two years ago I had no idea how rapidly we would grow," he said. Shipments of US-built caravans are now arriving on a monthly basis to meet the increasing demand, he added. Have your say

Jayco swift to help small car owners
JAYCO has launched new lightweight touring and outback Swift Camper Trailer models designed with small car owners in mind. The nation's biggest builder of RVs said holidaymakers would welcome the larger 4ft 6in front bed, while those with an eye for detail would appreciate the personalised front and rear mouldings, eye catching graphics and varying tent colours.

Hoons terrorise WA travellers
POLICE are hunting hoons who terrorised travellers camped at a beachside carpark in Western Australia. The couple feared for their safety as they desperately tried to escape the hooligans, who were thought to be armed with a firearm and bumped their campervan from side to side during the chase.

Adelaide couple hold caravan trifecta
WHEN it comes to swapping caravans, an Adelaide couple holds the Adria trifecta! Eric and Adrianna Kroon from Somerton Park have just taken delivery of their third new caravan in a little over 16 months.

New parks suggested for GOR
NEW caravan and camping parks along Victoria's iconic Great Ocean Road have been suggested in a tourism study. But the Corangamite Shire-commissioned study, which pinpoints 17 preferred locations across the shire to snare travellers and boost visitor numbers, has come in for criticism.

Researcher not all he's cracked up to be
THE rather nosy 'safety researcher' chatting to workers at Australia's biggest caravan producing factory was not all he was cracked up to be. In fact, the clipboard-carrying interrogator was not a researcher at all ... he was a member of Jayco's management team doing a spot of undercover work.

Police warning after caravan rollover
WIND may have contributed to a caravan rollover on the Northern Territory's Kakadu Highway, police believe. The accident prompted a warning from police who said strong winds could whip up without warning on remote highways, particularly through valleys. Two South Australian grey nomads aged in their 60s escaped unhurt in the mishap about 30km east of Pine Creek. A police spokesman said the couple's caravan suddenly began swaying before breaking free from the tow vehicle and overturning. Have your say

Sunny side of making cash while travelling
GREY Nomads on their adventure of a lifetime are being urged to fund their travels ... by turning their idle homes into money-making power stations. According to Sunshine Coast-based Auzion Solar Power in Queensland, harnessing the sun's rays is the perfect short and long-term investment for grey nomads and others who leave their homes and embark on extended trips.

Recall after wiring fears on campers
JAYCO has issued a recall after fears that 240V wiring on some Swan Campers could be a safety risk. Swan Campers with chassis numbers between N13048 and N13579 may require work to the wiring of the 240V inlet socket.

Chilling news on fridge repairs
ONE of Australia's biggest independent caravan repairers has some chilling news about RV fridges. Barry Davidson of Caboolture Caravan Repairs in Queensland has revealed that many cannot be removed for repairs ... because caravan doors are too narrow. Fridges are generally fitted during construction. Firing a broadside at caravan manufacturers, Barry fumed: "Why the bloody hell should a client have to dismantle a caravan, or a fridge, in order to perform a simple and logical operation that can be achieved with the use of a little pure, old fashioned, common sense." Have your say

$50,000 windfall for Bauple rest area
A SLEEPY Queensland village has received a $50,000 grant towards its new rest area for travellers. Fraser Coast Regional Council has already given the thumbs up for free overnight camping in the centre of Bauple, north of Gympie.

Queensland clubs set for annual state rally
ALL roads will lead to Maryborough in Queensland this month when caravan clubs from all over the Sunshine State hold their annual get-together. About 600 caravanners will head to the town's showground off the Bruce Highway for the Combined Caravan Clubs of Queensland's annual rally beginning October 12.

MP praises go-ahead park owners
THE oceanside BIG4 Bonny Hills Holiday Park south of Port Macquarie in NSW will undergo a $2m facelift over next three years. Merv and Alan King, who bought the 84-site park last December, have been praised by local MP Leslie Williams for their confidence in the holiday destination. She described their investment in the caravan park as a "shot in the arm" for the tourism industry. "Caravan and holiday parks have become very popular again and I'm sure the establishment of such a boutique park will guarantee its success," she said during a visit to the park. Have your say

Onboard guides takes hassle out of reaching destinations
CARAVANNERS now have a new onboard guide to help them reach their destinations. Navman has introduced a new concept to the GPS market, targeting drivers of larger vehicles like campervans and grey nomads towing caravans.

Fleetwood clinches major deal for transportable buildings
WESTERN Australia's Fleetwood Corporation, manufacturers of the Coromal and Windsor range of caravans, has clinched a major agreement with one of world's leading iron ore producers. The Perth-based company announced it had signed a five-year contract to supply BHP Billiton Iron Ore with transportable buildings for its expanding sites throughout the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Rock up for free camping and a fabulous show
GREY nomads are being offered free camping while they enjoy the fabulous music from yesteryear. Thousands of travellers are expected to roll up for the two-day Flashback Music Festival at Kendall Showground on NSW's Mid North Coast beginning November 12. They will be treated to a full programme of events and sounds from The Beatles, Bee Gees, Eagles, Roy Orbison, Fleetwood Mac, John Lennon and the Mid North Coast's best local talent. For more information, click here. Have your say

Holiday city focuses on travellers' new facility
A NEW dump point at a New South Wales holiday hotspot will be constantly monitored by CCTV cameras. Coffs Harbour City Council is determined that the facility at Phil Hawthorne Drive, designed to cater for recreational vehicle and caravan users, will not be abused.

ATPM wins tribunal battle for extra cabins
AUSTRALIAN Tourist Park Management has won its fight to get more cabins installed at a Victorian caravan park. Corangamite Shire Council had originally refused to allow the development at the Port Campbell Caravan and Camping Park. But the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has now ruled the extra five self-contained cabins and four eco lodges are acceptable. Locals and the council wanted to retain the use of the caravan park for camping purposes, but it had evolved "like so many other parks" from a traditional camping ground to containing more cabin-style accommodation, the tribunal said. Have your say

Green gongs for Escape2 parks
TWO of Escape2 Holiday Parks' newly acquired properties have won awards for environmental work. Murramarang Beachfront and Myall Shores nature resorts in NSW have received Bronze Gumnut gongs after fulfilling the criteria in each of the ten categories.

Kookaburra laughing as revenue rises
BUSSELTON'S Kookaburra Caravan Park in WA has received a pat on the back from the local council. The 3.5-star, 150-site park achieved a $60,000 increase in annual revenue, according to the local shire’s key performance indicators. Have your say

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

September 2011	August 2011	July 2011	June 2011	May 2011	April 2011