Tireless Norton honoured for contributions to tourism

Mr Whitmont: illustrious career

A LEADING member of Australia's caravanning industry was honoured in the latest round of Queen's Birthday Honours.

Norton Whitmont, former president of the Caravan and Camping Industry Association of NSW (CCIA), received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his outstanding voluntary contributions to tourism. The honour also rewarded him for more than 30 year's work with the Jewish community.

Recognised nationally by caravan and camping businesses, Mr Whitmont is regarded as being the single most influential advocate in terms of his vision and intellectual leadership.

CCIA chief executive officer Barry Baillie said his achievements were at the highest level, all in a voluntary capacity and, as a result, many thousands of people had directly and indirectly benefited from his capacity to achieve change.

During his illustrious career, Mr Whitmont has owned four residential and holiday parks over the past 30 years. He chalked up 25 years with the CCIA board and was president for 20 years before retiring in October, 2006.

He transformed the association into a highly professional and successful peak industry body which represented more than 500 holiday park and trade businesses. The association is now highly regarded by government and within the tourism and housing industries.

Mr Whitmont convinced the NSW Government to introduce significant changes to the Local Government Act 1919 which, for the first time, provided a State-wide licensing scheme and standards for caravan parks for tourism and permanent living.

He significantly influenced the Federal Government, Treasury and the Australian Taxation Office over the introduction of the GST.

Mr Whitmont developed a complex but workable formula for apportioning input tax credits which was accepted by the ATO and which lessened the impact of the GST on caravan parks, their guests and residents.

As a result of his work on this issue nationally, he was awarded the 2004 Eric Hayman Award for Excellence ... the highest caravan industry honour.

An industry representative on numerous government and industry committees and working groups, he lobbied both in NSW and nationally.

Mr Whitmont was instrumental in introducing the very successful environmental Gumnut programme for holiday and residential parks. This scheme has been adopted by 47 percent of caravan parks and is recognised as one of the most successful eco programs internationally.

In addition to his voluntary work as CCIA president, Mr Whitmont was also a director on the board of the national Caravan, RV and Accommodation Industry of Australia (CRVA) from 2003 to 2006.

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