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Western Caravans ceases trading

WEST Australian family-owned caravan builder Western Caravans has ceased trading. The Canning Vale company, established by Wes Ridden in 2003, pulled down the shutters this week. No one was available at the factory to comment. Ironically, Western Caravans' last Facebook entry dated July 1 announced: "Good progress with production this week." Western Caravans, members of the Recreational Vehicle Manufacturers Association of Australia, moved into bigger premises in 2006 to meet a rising demand for its caravans. Leading Perth dealer George Day Caravans was a major selling agent for Western Caravans until about five months ago when they parted company. Mr Ridden – said to "live and breathe" caravans – launched himself into the industry in 1990 when he opened his WA Recreational Vehicles company which customised a range of vehicles for RV use. News of his company's closure comes hard on the heels of the shock demise of Queensland quality off-road caravan builder Phoenix, which went into voluntary liquidation just weeks ago following a dramatic fall-off in orders. Have your say

TV presenter 'sorry' after free-camp furore

A TELEVISION presenter has apologised to outraged caravanners after his on-screen comments about free camping caused a furore. "Please accept my sincere personal apologies for the hurt and distress that the segment caused," What's Up Downunder host and caravan park owner Frankie J Holden, pictured, told them through Caravanning News. "It was a total 'stuff up' and I'm very sorry that I was involved." Furious caravanners swamped Channel 7 and an online caravanners' forum with protests after he took a swipe at free camping during the popular Saturday afternoon show, claiming it was a threat to the livelihood of caravan parks and their operators.

'This was a most foolhardy and dangerous stunt'

Gibb River Road warning sign

Caravan rider cops caning from police

By Dennis Amor
Have your say

A TRAVELLER who shot a video while riding inside a caravan as it was being towed along the infamous Gibb River Road in WA has copped a caning from horrified police and road safety experts.

The woman at the centre of the controversy even posted footage of her illegal escapade on the web, boasting: "All I can hear is the cutlery banging around in the drawers."

But astonished road safety experts and police were not impressed.

"This was a most foolhardy and dangerous stunt," one police officer told Caravanning News. "She could well have been seriously injured or killed in the event of an accident."

And the Australian Caravan Club hoped authorities would prosecute to deter any copycat attempts.

Travelling onboard a caravan is illegal and offenders can be slapped with fines of up to $2000 in some states.

Route ? No, it's Aussie Route !

CARAVANNERS on a popular Queensland tourist route could be forgiven for thinking they had strayed onto America's legendary Route 66. For there alongside Steve Irwin Way in the Sunshine Coast hinterland – ironically designated Australia's Route 6 – were two 24ft Airstream caravans glistening in all their glory in the afternoon sunshine. "They really took us by surprise," NSW grey nomad Harry Reid told Caravanning News. "I know they are all the go in the States, but I didn't think I'd see one, let alone two, here in the shadow of the Glasshouse Mountains."

Another record result for Fleetwood

WESTERN Australia's Fleetwood Corporation, manufacturers of the Coromal and Windsor range of caravans, is celebrating another record result. After-tax operating profit for the year ending June 30 soared 33 percent to $51.2 million compared with $38.7 million in 2010, its preliminary annual report reveals. Fleetwood reported increased caravan sales after its Recreational Vehicles division experienced a rapid recovery in trading conditions following the global financial crisis. It said the division "continues to have a healthy order book for caravans".

RVMAA speaks out on lethal caravan claims

AUSTRALIA'S peak body for caravan manufacturers has blamed non-members for sullying the industry. The Recreational Vehicle Manufacturers Association of Australia told Caravanning News: "The area for concern is with non-members who often get their 'vans through the registration process in various states even if their 'vans are non-compliant." The association was commenting on reports alleging that potentially lethal and unroadworthy caravans were being manufactured, sold and driven in South Australia. Meanwhile, a couple in their 70s say they are stranded at a SA caravan park after their brand new $95,000 caravan was deemed unroadworthy and a death trap by a safety inspector.

Caravans set to break own 30yr production record
AUSTRALIA'S caravan and RV industry is jumping for joy as production continues soaring to new record levels. Figures released by the RVMAA today show the surge in production continues unabated. Thirteen percent more RVs rolled off the production lines during the first six months of this year compared with 2010. The figures show that the industry is already well on its way to beating last year's record 30 percent rise in production.

Bolwell has awards edge with innovative caravan
BOLWELL RV has scooped two prestigious awards from the automotive and design industries for its trendsetting Bolwell Edge caravan. It collected an Automotive Engineering Excellence Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers – Australasia and a Good Design gong in the Australian International Design Awards.

Gongs honour business excellence
NEARLY 50 caravan parks and businesses collected gongs at the New South Wales industry's night of nights. The Caravan and Camping Industry Association of NSW hosted 270 guests during the event at the Ettalong Beach Club.

Devoted John may receive hero award
A 76-year-old NSW caravanner who still travels with his seriously ill wife who needs round-the-clock care may be nominated for a nationwide hero's award. Former truckie John Davey still hits the road with wife of 57 years Pat, who was struck down with Alzheimer’s disease and a stroke which left her without speech and unable to show any emotion.

Jayco set to benefit from grants scheme
JAYCO is set to benefit from a Victorian Government grants scheme. Dandenong-based Hilton Manufacturing has won a $50,000 handout to design, develop, manufacture and assemble products for Jayco caravans and camper trailers. The Competitive Business Fund is distributing almost $3 million in grants which the government says will create 340 new jobs across Victoria. Have your say

Induct yourself into new way of caravan cooking
TRAVELLERS are being inducted into a new energy-saving method of cooking in their caravans and motorhomes. Rated at just 800 watts, the Ecoheat RV portable induction cooker is designed to save both time and power, drawing only 3.3 amps.

Parks division pours $7.8m into Aspen Group coffers
MINING and solid tourist numbers helped Aspen Parks, which operates a nationwide chain of caravan and accommodation parks, pour $7.8m into the group's coffers during the last financial year. The result, revealed in the Perth-based Aspen Group's annual report, showed a $300,000 rise revenue over the previous year. Continued strong demand for accommodation at mining parks in Australia's north-west and good tourist numbers at Aspen's 25 parks had underpinned the result, the report said.

New park will offer free stays for up to week
A SMALL West Australian town is planning a new caravan park ... and travellers will be able to stay free for up to a week. Councillors gave the thumbs up to the park on a 2.3ha site at Arrino, on the Midland Road about 300km north of Perth, to cater for the hordes of grey nomads who flock to the area during the Spring wildflower season.

Caravan industry helps parents of sick kids
VICTORIA'S big-hearted caravan industry has donated $5000 to help the parents of sick children. The Caravan Industry Association of Victoria gave the money to Wodonga's Ronald McDonald Family Room on behalf of the inaugural Border RV & Camping Expo.

Spring into action for free stay
BIG4 Holiday Parks is adding a sweetener for people planning a spring getaway with a free night's accommodation. The chain's special 'Stay 4, Pay 3' promotion will be available at more than 40 caravan parks until the end of November.

Cloud of uncertainty over flood-battered park
A CONSULTANT'S report into future of Victoria's Clunes Caravan Park, which is under threat of closure, is due to be completed this month. Located in Victoria's first gold town, the park became popular with tourists exploring the Gold Trail and Sovereign Hill. But a cloud of uncertainty now hangs over the caravan park which has taken a battering at the hands of Mother Nature.

TV cameras roll at Garden City
TRAVELLERS and holidaymakers at a Queensland caravan park found themselves fronting the cameras for a national television show. Channel 9's weatherman Steve Jacobs and his film crew dropped into the four-star BIG4 Toowoomba Garden City Holiday Park to film segments for the popular Today morning show.

Caravan thefts turned into comedy of errors
ATTEMPTS to steal two caravans from a Brisbane dealer turned into a comedy of errors. Police said a stolen utility was crashed through the front gates of Jayco dealer Brisbane Camperland at Tingalpa and a 23-ft caravan allegedly hooked up to the vehicle. But it became dislodged and rolled across the road before coming to a stop. The man then allegedly returned to the yard, hitched up a 16ft poptop caravan and drove away. Police, alerted by numerous calls from members of the public, attempted to intercept the rig before it crashed into a brick retaining wall in an alleyway. The driver fled but was caught after a short foot pursuit. A 39-year-old man will appear in court on September 15. Have your say

Partnership reaps rewards
AWARDS keep flowing to Wyong Shire Council's caravan parks in New South Wales. The achievements highlight the successful partnership between the council and Australian Tourist Park Management, which has managed the four 3.5-star parks in the Central Coast Holiday Parks group for five years.

No move to ban free camping: Regulator
THE Office of the Economic Regulator in Tasmania has denied it wants to outlaw free camping in the Apple Isle. A spokesman told Caravanning News there was no recommendation to ban it, adding: "It can’t do this anyway." The assurance came after the independent Regulator investigated four complaints from private caravan park operators over councils providing cheap or free camping.

New rules better protect residents
CARAVAN park residents in Victoria will be better protected under changes to the Residential Tenancies Act which comes into force this month. Site owners will now have to provide tenants with 365 days notice to vacate for 'no specified reason' ... up from 120 days.

Industry honours Merry Beach stalwart
CARAVAN park operator Brian Wallace has served the industry for more than half a century. Now his impressive record has been recognised with a special award from NSW's Caravan and Camping Industry Association. Brian, who owns the 4.5-star Merry Beach Caravan Resort on the mid South Coast, has been presented with a lifetime achievement award for his involvement in the industry during the past 55 years. The gong honours him "for providing 55 years of caravan and camping holidays and memories for thousands of happy travellers and for an outstanding contribution to the success of the industry". Brian set up the Pebbly Beach caravan park in the 1950s before buying Merry Beach in 1974. He said the award had come as a complete surprise. Have your say

Grassfire destroys caravan in NT
A GRASSFIRE which spread out of control destroyed a caravan in the Northern Territory. There was little firefighters could do to save it as flames roared out of control at Howard Springs. The grassfire was believed to have been caused by an 8-year-old boy playing with a cigarette lighter.

New operators for $1-a-year park
A NSW council has now leased out its $1-a-year caravan park which attracted only two expressions of interest when it first advertised for new operators. Brewarrina Shire Council in the state's west has signed a three-year agreement with the indigenous training organisation, Birrang Enterprises, which reportedly plans to spend about $120,000 on upgrades.

Camping replaces caravanning
FLOOD-ravaged Bridgewater Public Caravan Park in Victoria will reopen this summer, but for camping only. Loddon Shire Council has approved a temporary camping ground for the site on the banks of the Loddon River.

Free campers could prevent vandalism: residents
FED up residents have called on a Queensland council to allow caravanners and other tourists to free-camp in their vandal-prone seaside town. The plea follows an outbreak of vandalism at Tin Can Bay and Cooloola Cove east of Gympie in the state's south-east.

Posthumous awards for brave parents
COURAGEOUS parents who died trying to rescue their children in raging surf while on holiday at a NSW caravan park have received posthumous bravery awards. The couple perished as they attempted to save two of their three children who became caught in a rip while taking a dip in an unpatrolled dangerous stretch of ocean near the South Ballina Beach holiday park in January last year.

Freeloader ordered to pay restitution
A MAN who made off without paying after staying at a South Australian caravan park has appeared in court. Peter Robbins, 27, also fled after enjoying the luxury of a local resort. He was ordered to repay more than $2500 to Mount Gambier's Kalganyi Caravan Park, a member of the Top Tourist chain, and the Lakes Resort. Magistrate Jack Fahey said a pre-sentence report found Robbins had little remorse. Robbins now has to report to corrections officers weekly and take random breath tests in an effort to curb his dishonesty. Have your say

Council to trial overnight rest areas
LOGAN City Council south of Brisbane will three trial overnight rest areas for caravanners and other travellers. They will be provided at Logan River Parklands, Eagleby; Pioneer Park, Woodhill; Tully Memorial Park, North Maclean, and Loganlea Picnic Grounds, Meadowbrook. After the 12-month pilot, a report will be prepared for the council's Customer Service, Marketing and Parks Committee. Have your say

ACC hopes for gem of a muster
MORE than 150 caravans will next month roll into a NSW town which was once the largest producer of diamonds in Australia. And members of the Australian Caravan Club hope the week-long National Muster and annual general meeting will sparkle and turn out to be a gem of an event.

Cylone-prone parks face soaring insurance bills
CARAVAN parks in cyclone-prone areas of Queensland face soaring insurance bills in wake of this year's destructive Cyclone Yasi. Caravanning Queensland's Quentin Fletcher told the ABC that the average insurance excess for parks was now $100,000 since Australia's biggest ever cyclone ravaged parts of the Sunshine State. The option was to fork out 25 percent more for annual premiums. Have your say

Licence to earn as you travel
AN Australian recreational vehicle builder is offering income-generating opportunities for buyers of its caravans. New South Wales-based Grandcruiser Caravans said the initiative, possibly a world first, was aimed almost exclusively at the baby boomer market.

Show generates predicted $15m in business
THE recent Wide Bay Fraser Coast Home Show and Camping and Caravan Expo will probably generate around $15 million in sales and future orders, according to the organisers. The three-day event at Maryborough Showgrounds attracted around 14,000 visitors. Australian Events marketing manager Paul Niehus said the Friday attendance was higher than at any other of its 16 shows in Queensland this year, even beating the Gold Coast. Have your say

BIG4 dives into interactive water parks
IN keeping with a new trend in holiday park leisure facilities, BIG4 parks are installing interactive water features to entertain the kids. Designed to bring a whole new level of fun to the swimming pool, the water parks incorporate water slides, water jets and play equipment.

Sign of the times
TENTERFIELD council officials in NSW are looking into complaints of inadequate New England Highway signage to the town's caravan parks. The news comes after councillors overwhelmingly voted against moves to join the RV Friendly Town scheme under which they would have to provide a free or cheap overnight camping area. They rejected the idea after local caravan parks complained it would rob them of business. Have your say

New faces at ATPM
AUSTRALIAN Tourist Park Management has appointed Scott Hayden as general manager (operations and compliance) and Traci Hayman as human resource manager. Mr Hayden has 23 years’ experience in the tourism and business industry, most recently as general manager of the Gold Coast's Couran Cove Resort. Ms Hayman has a vast range of experience, including Tabcorp, Gold Coast International Hotel and Oceania Aviation Services. Have your say

Make Cairns friendlier for RVers: report
CAIRNS in far north Queensland should become friendlier towards caravanners and other RV travellers, it is claimed. The viewpoint is contained in a consultant's report prepared for Cairns Regional Council's community plan.

Snap to attention: new catch limit
CARAVANNERS who like to wet a line have been warned about new fishing rules for catching snapper in Queensland. Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace reminded anglers that bag limits were reduced from five to four under new rules introduced on September 1. The new limit relates to maximum number of snapper people can have in their possession at any one time ... and not on a per-day basis. He said: "This includes the fish you have caught previously that are in your freezer at home, campsite or in your caravan." Have your say

Exhibitors flock to show at Leisurefest
NEXT month's Melbourne Leisurefest will celebrate a boom in the popularity of caravanning, boating and four-wheel-driving. With caravan production setting new records, and boats and four-wheel-drives surging in popularity, the entire leisure industry is flocking to take part in the four-day Leisurefest from October 6 at Sandown Racecourse.

Expo attracts over 15,000 visitors
MORE than 15,000 people attended Victoria's three-day inaugural Border RV & Camping Expo. Visitors travelled from all over northern Victoria and southern New South Wales and even from other states for the event at Wodonga. Organised by the Caravan Industry Association of Victoria, the expo showcased 229 caravans, trailers, motorhomes and fifth-wheelers accounting for 32 different brands. Have your say

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

August 2011	July 2011	June 2011	May 2011	April 2011	March 2011