Australian Caravan Club (ACC) members attending their Club’s national muster in Shepparton last month injected over $200,000 into the economy of the City and its surrounds, the Club’s National Chairman Craig Humphrey said today.

The ACC held its annual national muster at the Shepparton Showgrounds from 16 to 23 October 2016.

“Almost 400 members in 200 RVs stayed at the Showground for a week to ten days to attend the national muster,” said Mr Humphrey.  “Members attending were asked to complete an expense sheet detailing money spent during their stay.”

“The total expenditure for the national muster period was in excess of $212,000,”said Mr Humphrey. “That equates to an average spend of $1,060 per RV over the muster.”

“This shows that towns and localities that can attract RVers, can really benefit economically from the RV community.”

Over the national muster week, ACC members visited local wineries, a packing shed, SPC, Dookie College and other tourist attractions, and dined out in the Shepparton area.

“The recorded expenditure shows that during their stay in Shepparton, ACC members purchased fuel, groceries, alcohol, and chemist items.  Other expenditure included eating out, vehicle maintenance and repairs, and tourism items.”

“Our Club data shows that over the past 5 years, ACC members attending our annual musters have injected in excess of $1,020,000 shared over the 5 communities where the musters have been held.”

“On behalf of the members of the ACC, I’d like to thank the people of Shepparton and its surrounds and the Shepparton Agricultural Society for making us feel so welcome during our stay,” Mr Humphrey said.

The ACC’s next national muster is scheduled to take place in October next year at Bingara, New South Wales.

The Club also undertakes two Chairman’s Musters each year where up to 100 vans gather in a regional location for a week.  “These Chairman’s Musters also support regional towns with significant spending by Club members.  In 2017 these will be staged in Kingaroy Queensland, and Peak Hill in New South Wales,” Mr Humphrey said.