CARAVANNING NEWS - October 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

October 2009

BREAKING NEWS

OCTOBER 29: Ceduna Shelly Beach Caravan Park, a member of the Family Parks chain, becomes first park in South Australia to win five-star rating for a cabin.

OCTOBER 28: Caravanner dies in accident with road train about 100km south of Karratha in Western Australia. Police said the traveller's car and caravan ended up trapped under the truck on the North Western Highway at Fortescue.

OCTOBER 26: Arson suspected after early-morning blaze destroys caravan in Wirrina Cove, South Australia. No one hurt.

OCTOBER 25: Man who was allegedly beaten with baseball bat at Clog Barn Caravan Park on Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour, NSW, dies in hospital.

OCTOBER 25: Building work forges ahead on new beachside caravan park at Agnes Water in Queensland.

OCTOBER 23 Golf Caravans reportedly ceased production. Factory at Lawnton near Brisbane closed.

OCTOBER 23: Man, 59, on life support after being clubbed with baseball bat at the Clog Barn Caravan Park on Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour, NSW.

OCTOBER 22: Sydney caravanner, 60, dies when 4WD and caravan roll on Hume Highway at Tarcutta in NSW. Her male passenger escapes unhurt. No other vehicle involved.

OCTOBER 21: Heavy police presence at Border Village Caravan Park on WA/SA border where members of Finks motorcycle club overnighted before continuing to Perth.

OCTOBER 21: Police hunt for Victorian caravanners called off after they were found safe and well in Tasmania. Neville and Rose Porter, both in 70s, are touring but not been heard of since early October. No further details available.

OCTOBER 19: Habitual criminal Prestoin Sesar, 59, who stole wallet containing $21 from Coolalinga Caravan Park south of Darwin jailed for 15 months. Will serve seven months.

OCTOBER 16: Brisbane's 172-site Nestle Inn Village caravan park sells at auction for $9.25 million. Future as caravan park understood to be safe.

OCTOBER 15: Caravanners at 118-site Brooms Head Caravan Park in northern NSW on alert as bushfires approach.

OCTOBER 15: Man, 36, in hospital with serious head injuries after being attacked by three men armed with baseball bats at Whitesands Caravan Park, Murray Bridge, SA.

OCTOBER 14: Four people injured in lunchtime head-on crash involving caravan on Queensland's Bruce Highway, 5km north of St Lawrence.

OCTOBER 14: Five travellers taken to Atherton Hospital after car and campervan collide on Kennedy Highway near Ravenshoe in north Queensland.

OCTOBER 9: Firemen save caravan as bushfire roars through property at Flying Fox near Canungra in south-east Queensland. No one hurt..

OCTOBER 8: Trapped caravanner in her 60s freed by rescue workers after rollover on Carnarvon Highway at Injune, Queensland. Taken to Injune medical centre with head injuries. Three other people in tow vehicle treated for minor injuries.

OCTOBER 8: Two tourists rescued after camper trailer becomes bogged in snow in Alpine National Park near Omeo, Victoria.

OCTOBER 7: Two boys charged after golf buggy stolen from caravan park at Port Macquarie in New South Wales.

OCTOBER 6: Caravan wrecked when lightning bolt sent a tree crashing down in Wollongong suburb of Dapto, NSW. No one hurt.

OCTOBER 6: Caravanners urged to lock their vehicles after spate of thefts from unlocked cars at caravan parks in Hervey Bay, Queensland.

OCTOBER 5: Brisbane family of three suffer minor injuries as 4WD towing caravan crashes on Bruce Highway near Nambour in Queensland.

OCTOBER 4: Golf and Sunland caravan manufacturers in Queensland to be brought under same management. Spokesman said both builders would initially retain own identity, design and production teams.

OCTOBER 4: Four cats perish in caravan blaze at Nambour Caravan Park at Kulangoor, Queensland. Owner away when fire broke out. Caravan destroyed.

October 3: Part of Sunshine Coast caravan park sealed off after discovery of illegal drugs laboratory. Area at Maroochydore park now declared safe by hazardous materials officers.

October 2: Traveller staying at Bucket Billabong camping ground in Northern Territory's Kakadu National Park bitten by crocodile while swimming in nearby waterhole. The West Australian man, 57, treated at Jabiru Health Clinic for arm injuries.

POLICE PLEA AFTER FIREBALL DRAMA

POLICE have warned caravanners about the dangers of handling fuel containers. This follows a drama at a Northern Territory caravan park in which a jerry can accidentally became a flamethrower, causing an inferno which destroyed a caravan and 4WD within minutes. Caravan owner Scott Granelli spoke exclusively to Caravanning News about his ordeal.

Mayhem revives calls for mandatory training

By DENNIS AMOR

TOWING courses will eventually become mandatory for caravanners, according to the boss of a nationwide training company.

"If we follow European trends – and we generally do – then I believe it will be inevitable that towing courses will be compulsory within the next few years," Tow-Ed founder John Eggenhuizen told Caravanning News.

His warning follows a horror few weeks on Australian roads in which four caravanners died and many others were injured.

The mayhem has renewed calls for legislation forcing caravanners to undergo training and special tests before being allowed to hit the open road.

GEIST 'VANS NOW OWNED BY CREDITOR

GEIST caravans worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from failed Queensland importer Oakhurst International Caravans now belong to a finance company. Ownership of the German-built caravans has passed to secured creditor GE Commercial Corporation - which is understood to be owed around $4 million - following a recent court case. Sales of Geist caravans and motorhomes were thrown into chaos after the Maryborough-based importer went belly-up in March with reported debts of up to $11 million.

POLICE SIFT THROUGH CLUES AFTER SECOND CHILD KIDNAP BID

Identikit picture of the man wanted after attempted adbuction at WA caravan park

POLICE in Western Australia are sifting through dozens of tip-offs after the second attempt to kidnap a child from a caravan park in the State. Detectives have ruled out a link between the latest abduction bid at the four-star BIG4 Beachlands Holiday Park in Busselton and a similar incident at Dongara (see story at bottom of page). The six-year-old girl from Perth told police she was playing near the front gate of the 82-site park when a man grabbed her and bundled her into his blue sedan. She said she managed to escape when he walked to the other side of the car to get in. The offender is described as aged between 30 and 45, slim with black hair and blue eyes, hairy arms and yellow teeth. He wore blue jeans, black jacket and a dark coloured beanie. His car had skull-style car seat covers. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Identikit picture of the wanted man

End of era as Seawinds sells for almost $3m
CARAVANNERS have applauded news that the future of a Queensland beachfront caravan park is secure after it was sold for nearly $3 million. And the former owner of Seawinds talked exclusively to Caravanning News about the 'end of an era'.

Cold comfort for sleeping caravanners
A SNOOZING truckie upset sleepy holidaymakers at a central New South Wales caravan park. They were not amused at being roused from their own slumbers when, after a gruelling 900km haul from Adelaide, the weary transport driver stopped near their park for a 4am rest ... and left his noisy refrigeration unit running.

Inferno prompts closer look at fire safety in parks
FIRE service officials in the Northern Territory are taking a close look at fire safety in caravan parks. This follows an horrific blaze at the Banka Banka Station caravan park, 110km north of Tennant Creek on the Stuart Highway, which reduced a family's caravan and 4WD to a pile of charred wood and twisted metal within minutes.

Seething park operators urged to 'work smarter'
A FORMER caravan park operator has urged opponents of a plan to allow free overnight camping in Victoria's small Snowy River towns to make the most of the situation. Parks are critical and angry after East Gippsland Shire councillors decided that towns in its area should become more friendly to grey nomads and other travellers by offering free camping and other facilities.

Bushtracker holds annual muster
NEARLY 150 caravanners attended the 2009 Bushtracker Owners Group Annual Muster. Last month's week-long event – at Lake Hindmarsh in Victoria – attracted Bushtracker owners from all over Australia who raised $4500 for local charities.

Travellers gear up for pre-summer bargains
TRAVELLERS are gearing up to grab pre-summer bargains at New South Wales' South Coast Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo. The Expo, which will be celebrating its eighth year, will be held at Mackay Park in Batemans Bay from November 6 to 8 and is expected to attract around 13,000 visitors.

Kathryn snaps up grand old lady of the road
WHEN Kathryn Lucas spotted a 58-year-old caravan on eBay she knew she had to have it. And she was over the moon when her $1000 Mother's Day bid was successful and she collected the grand old lady of the road from the Gold Coast. And she was even more delighted when she found hidden treasure inside the vintage caravan.

Restructured member scheme will mean bigger savings
A RESTRUCTURED member discount scheme will mean greater savings in the long term, according to the BIG4 chain of caravan parks. Caravanners and other tourists will now have to pay $50 when they first join the popular scheme, a rise of $10. But in return, they will be able to save up to $40 each time they visit one of the chain’s 180-plus parks and resorts across Australia.

Huge interest as park auction approaches
THE 172-site Nestle Inn Village caravan park in Brisbane will go under the auctioneer's hammer this month. The three-star park is being sold as part of an asset unloading after the closure of Mariner Coastal Investment Trust. "We are receiving huge interest in the sale," CB Richard Ellis real estate sales agent Andrew Jackson told Caravanning News.

Government shells out $876.000 to keep pace with visitor demand
MORE than 30 caravan parks and camping grounds on Crown land in Victoria will receive a multi-thousand dollar shot in the arm. The State government is shelling out $876,000 for improvements to help keep pace with growing visitor demand.

Clueless caravanner could hold key to cat mystery
AN UNSUSPECTING caravanner could hold the key for unlocking a three-year-old mystery involving Clyde the cat. The long-haired Himalayan feline nonchalantly wandered into the grounds of Cloncurry Hospital from a nearby caravan park in Queensland's outback ... and how he managed to travel the 3800km from his home in Tasmania remains unexplained.

Grey nomads help company chalk up record annual sales
GREY nomads have been instrumental in one company chalking up its biggest ever year of campervan and motorhome sales. Despite the global recession, KEA Campers Australia – which designs, manufactures, rents and sells luxury RVs in Australia, New Zealand and Southern Africa – says consumer confidence has remained strong.

Visitors set to gorge themselves on feast of entertainment
TRAVELLERS will gorge themselves on a feast of entertainment at a Queensland caravan park next month. The BIG4 Cania Gorge Caravan and Tourist Park near Monto will stage its first ever Talent in the Gorge event from November 28 to December 6 ... and there'll be $6000 up for grabs.

New Peninsula park even has its own barista
VICTORIA's latest purpose-built multi-million dollar state-of-the-art caravan park is now open for business. The BIG4 Bellarine Holiday Park near Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula threw open its doors on October 1 and offers a unique range of facilities ... including its very own in-house barista for coffee lovers!

Shire throws down welcome mat for caravanners
TWO small towns in northern New South Wales are throwing down the welcome mat for touring caravanners. Walgett Shire Council is developing two primitive camping grounds for overnight or short-stay travellers at Walgett and Collarenebri,

Grey nomad killed, wife trapped in highway crash
A 74-YEAR-OLD caravanner died when his rig was involved in an horrific accident on a central Queensland highway. Rescue workers battled furiously to free the man's 75-year-old wife who was trapped in the mangled wreckage of the couple's Mitsubishe Pajero 4WD for nearly two hours after a collision with a B-double refrigerated truck.

Knifeman jailed after petty argument turns violent
A FIGHT at a Queensland caravan park ended with one man being stabbed more than 10 times, a court heard. The boil-up at the Willowbank Caravan Park, Ipswich, left the victim with a partially collapsed lung and blood spattered over the caravan walls, sink, cupboards and stove, Ipswich District Court was told.

Caravanning, camping tipped to lead tourism revival
CARAVAN and camping holidays are set to lead the tourism revival, according to the Caravan and Camping Industry Association of NSW. The claim follows record sales and attendances at last month's Penrith Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo.

WA clubs set for annual general meetings
THE Australasian Touring Caravan, Motorhome and Camping Club will hold its annual general meeting in Western Australia this month. Delegates will elect a new committee at the meeting in Busselton on October 17. And the Western Australian Association of Caravan Clubs will hold its annual general meeting in the Ev Nicholls Room, RAAFA, Bullcreek Drive, Bull Creek, on November 18 beginning at 7.30pm.

Parks prove winners in bid to find best holiday spots
VICTORIANS have shown their love of the great outdoors by voting 24 caravan parks and camping areas into the top 101 favourite accommodation properties. And that has surprised organisers of the RACV's campaign to find the state's best places to stay.

Police continue manhunt after attempted child abduction at West Australian caravan park

POLICE are continuing their huge manhunt after a young girl was snatched from a West Australian caravan park. The nine-year-old child was sleeping in a tent at the four-star Dongara Tourist Park, about 350km north of Perth, when she was grabbed at 6am by a man and bundled into his nearby ute. The screaming youngster managed to escape as he went to the driver's side. Police Sgt Graham Clifford told Caravanning News last Saturday's attempted abduction could be linked to another incident where a man pulled back the bedclothes of a 43-year-old woman as she slept at 3am in a tent at the BIG4 Dongara Denison Beach caravan park about 2km away. Police have issued an identikit picture of the wanted man (above right). He is described as caucasian, about 30 years old, slim and driving a white 4x4 dual cab utility with a noisy exhaust and skinny tyres. Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Contacted by Caravanning News, Dongara Tourist Park owner Ron Saulsman declined to comment or reveal whether security at the park, a member of the Top Tourist chain, would be stepped up. The girl has now returned to her home in Perth, too frightened to continue her holiday.

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


September 2009	August 2009	July 2009	June 2009	May 2009	April 2009

Editor: Dennis Amor
PO Box 678
Caloundra
Queensland 4551
Australia
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LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR

Roadstar boss
Ken impressed with our news coverage

I WAS impressed in the way you covered the Roadstar story in your last issue, and appreciate the professional way it was handled by the editor. The family photo shows that we are a normal family, working hard to achieve a goal to benefit everyone involved together with dealers affected. Our goals are basic ... to work and achieve the perfect caravans to be presented to the retiree who works a lifetime to enjoy and chase the best of what life has to offer. You will be happy to hear that one of my valued dealers emailed me after reading your editorial, saying they went through a lot with all the gossip. They just came back from holidays travelling in their new custom-built Roadstar Daintree. They assure me that they enjoyed the 'van and definitely was proud to display its quality and comfort. Achieving these results is what fuels me to steam ahead. Thank you to my dealers and valued caravanners.

Ken Nizam
Australian Hitec Engineering
(Roadstar Caravans).

Congratulations
to buyers

I THINK the people who purchased the Roadstar business should be congratulated. Well done.

Chris Acton.

Great way
to travel

WE have been travelling in caravans for the last 12 years, with the kids during the early years but more recently just the two of us. We enjoy reading about other people's ventures, experiences, preferred caravans and the accessories they have purchased to further enjoy their experience. Go you good thing ... and enjoy what Australia has to offer, which is limited only by your imagination. What a great way to travel!

Gary Hines
Townsville.

Brickbat for outback drivers

FOLLOWING on from your story about the quality of some grey nomads' outback driving, I wouldn't allow some of them to control my wheelbarrow, let alone a vehicle towing a heavy caravan. I'll never know how some of them from the south ever make it in one piece to the northern states for their annual winter migration to the sun. Their road sense can be deplorable and watching them reverse onto a caravan park site is often a sight to behold.

Stan Holsworthy
Queensland.

WORLD BRIEFS

Ferdinand cries foul of superstar holiday spots

MANCHESTER United and England multi-millionaire footballer Rio Ferdinand has become the latest superstar to enjoy a caravan holiday. The sportsman shunned the playgrounds of the rich and famous and took his wife and two young children on a three-night break at the modest Presthaven Sands Holiday Park in Prestatyn, North Wales.

HOLIDAYMAKERS will soon be touring India in luxury caravans. The 'home on wheel' packages are being launched in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh and tourists will travel in air-conditioned caravans with all mod-cons including Wi-Fi connectivity, mini bar, TV and toilet.

The Caravan Channel television programme in Britain, which attracts more than 100,000 viewers, celebrates three years' of continuous production this month.

AMERICAN cyclist Paul Elkins has built what could be the world's smallest caravan. Weighing in a mere 45kg, the 2m 'van is fully equipped with solar power, gas cooker, bed, fan, ice box, laundry hamper, fold-out table, storage areas ... and even a flower box.

THE 58-year-old Mayor of Fleetwood in Lancashire, England, has quit after being charged with stealing women's underwear from the Sportsman's Caravan Park in Stalmine. Ian Stafford will appear in court next month.

A COMPETITION organised by German caravan and motorhome company Sunlight GmbH revealed that the ideal men's RV would come with bar, disco, outdoor theatre, rooftop sundeck, two plasma screens, sound system, poker table and barbecue – but few essential kitchen devices!

TRAVELLERS in New Zealand are hopping mad over new legislation which will land them with $40 on-the-spot fines if they are caught free-camping. Thames Coromandel District Council will issue fines to anyone not camping in an official campsite or holiday park.

BRITAIN'S Caravan Club voted the Volkwagen Golf SE 2.0TDI Tow Car of the Year at a recent awards ceremony.

A TOP Gear television programme stunt in Britain went horribly wrong when an airship with a caravan slung underneath crashed alongside the busy A428 near Eltisley in Cambridgeshire. Presenter James May and his film crew were unhurt.