Caravanning News

Strength of the Caravan Industry Presented to the Prime Minister

Caravan Industry Association of Australia Treasurer and Board member, Dennis Austin, sat with the Prime Minister on Friday to showcase the size and strength of the caravanning industry in Australia.

In the wake of the declining car industry, it is particularly important that industry messages and concerns are presented to key decision makers in Federal Government.  Dennis presented the messages of industry growth and value to the Australian economy to Malcolm Turnbull.

Dennis was able to highlight our billion-dollar contribution of manufactured product per year and almost 6% growth.  He also pointed out that almost one million visitor nights are spent in caravan parks every week and that our industry focus was in regional Australia, where approximately 90% of camping nights take place.  The industry's significant impact on regional development and the provision of employment opportunities was also given due emphasis.

Dennis, the recent recipient of the Eric Hayman Award for Excellence, was able to provide insights about the strength of our industry and its bright future to the Prime Minster.  Dennis said, "It was an incredible opportunity to present our industry messages to the highest authority in parliamentary circles over this lunch meeting".  He also said, "I was able to tell the Prime Minister that we represent a very 'sexy' industry with a bright future".

During the meeting Dennis also sat with key advisors to the Prime Minister and presented an industry briefing paper detailing the industry's strength as well as concerns and positions on current issues.

The work of Dennis and the peak national body has built a strong foundation of industry lobbying and advocacy, showcasing industry strength, which now enables us to approach the highest levels of government with strategies to co-partner in future developments.

Overall Dennis said the objective of presenting our industry's success was met, saying, "Today we gained valuable traction in informing the Prime Minister of our industry's strength and future to the degree that he would have been unaware".

An industry political lobbying kit will be distributed in the coming week to allow industry businesses to effectively lobby within local federal electorates on key issues affecting them.

New Branch in the Lockyer Valley Qld

Our 42^nd branch has been formed west of Brisbane in the Lockyer Valley.  We welcome the Lockyer Valley RVers and it members who are all new to the ACC. The Lockyer RVers will be holding their musters on the 3rd weekend of each month (except Dec/Jan).

Being in a centrally located area this allows the branch to travel in all directions but they have limited the travel time to a maximum of 3 hours. Branch members will be free to do as much or as little as they like while away on there trips, with members going out to dinner on the Saturday night if they wish. The branch does not organise any activities for the members, this allows them to either visit local shops or go explore waterfalls or curl up with a book in the shade, and share there adventures on return.

They have already organised their first muster to be held at Boondooma Homestead from the 15^th – 22^nd June. 

If you are interested in joining or going to this muster please contact Lawrence at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Ph  0403501831

3 New Branches

What a great weekend for the club with three new branches being formed. 

In WA following the Perth Show a meet and greet muster was held at Goomalling for our new members and others who had shown interest in joining the club.  The weekend was a great success with  38 vans  attending and others coming for the Saturday meeting.  A further 21 new units joined the club over the weekend along with the 22 who joined during the show.

It was decided to form two new branches.  Congratulations to the members of the Wait Awhile Nomads and Nomadic Numbats.  With five branches in Perth we all should have a muster we can go to when travelling to WA in the future.

On the Sunshine Coast an afternoon tea was held on Sunday following last week’s caravan show.  Some existing members who had not joined a branch along with some of the 28 who had joined at the show meet and decided to form a third branch on the Coast.  The Sun Coast Cruisers are our latest branch and will have their first muster at Woodford Showgrounds from the 13^th to 15^th of May.

This follows last weekends first muster of the East Gippsland Roadrunners at Swifts Creek where they had 13 vans.  The Roadrunners will have their first tagalong up the coast in June.

Thanks to all those who worked at the shows and the weekend to help these new members form their branches. 

If you would like to join one of the new branches or any of our 41 branches throughout Australia please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Here are two safety recalls and an ACCC warning, club members have picked up, and have passed on.

They involve a High Lift Jack and two Jayco recalls.

Please follow the links to see to this affects you.

Autoplus, Outbax and Sun Yee high lift jack

http://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/high-lift-jacks-suppliers-pay-penalties-following-accc-infringement-notices

Jayco - Selected Chassis Numbers between T12203 and U19103

http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1085579

Jayco - 94 RV's Between the chassis numbers S20001 and T90194

http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1085251

If you know of any other Safety issues or recalls you would like to pass on to members, drop an email with the link to Terry: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Surprises at the RAC Perth Caravan and Camping Show
 
With 28 volunteers rostered as per their requests, everything was on track to run smoothly in the ACC stand.
 
On set up day, our first surprise – our outdoor marquee was full of unwanted furniture.  After checking with the Show Office, George and I proceeded ‘to relocate’ the furniture next door.  We had already worked up quite a sweat without even starting our own setup.
 
The next day, I decided that we needed a little ‘something extra’ to attract attention to our stand.  The balloons were blown up by Liz and Bruce, and then hung out front.  After a short time, there was a bang, then another, and another, and so on.  It was an attraction all right – every balloon had popped, and all passers by definitely knew where the ACC stand was.
 
My biggest surprise of all, was how many talented sale people we have in our Perth membership.  As I was on duty for the five days, I observed all the different styles of selling our Club.  From June’s invitation to ‘please sit down and have a rest”  (then she had them like putty in her hands), to Roz and Yvonne’s ‘smooth operator’ styles.  All the boys held their own as well, from Bruce and Graeme’s gentle persuasion to take a brochure, to Scotty and Otto’s ‘how ya going mate’.  All 28 of our volunteers were just fabulous!!
 
It was a successful show, with 22 new members, and 103 expressions of interest to be followed up.
 
The best thing of all, was that we all had a lot of fun to boot!
 
Thank you to all my volunteers, who did a terrific job, and to Maria and Lorraine for their help and support before and during the Show.

The Lions Club of Rosewood is now managing the camping facilities at the Rosewood Showgrounds, on behalf of the Ipswich City Council.  Lyall McEwin from the Lions Club has advised -

 “Rosewood is a small town outside Ipswich in Queensland.  We have recently been invited to manage a budget caravan park at the local showground and have now commenced operations.  Features include the adjacent railway station, which connects to Ipswich and onto Brisbane in just over an hour.  We have 16 powered sites, toilets, showers and around 40 unpowered sites, with a dumpsite shortly to be installed.  The park is also in walking distance to our Rosewood CBD (Supa IGA, pubs, PO, banks, launderette, etc).  It is also on the Cobb & Co route to western Queensland.  Cost is $15/night irrespective of persons.” 

So, if you find yourself travelling through SE Qld, e.g. north on your winter sojourn or your return south, out to western Queensland or around Australia, please drop in for a night or two.  Lyall’s wife Pam and her sister Gail own the Rosewood Post Office, the site of the ACC PO Box, so feel free to call in for a chat.

With almost level sites, plus extra power boxes and water taps around the grounds, it’s a camper’s dream.  Generators, contained campfires and pets are welcome.  

This is an ideal location if you need to visit the outer Brisbane area, attend specialist medical appointments in the city, or are heading to the summer tennis or cricket matches, caravan shows or the Brisbane Ekka.  Just jump on the train and avoid all the big city traffic issues.

Besides the Super IGA, banks & ATM’s, post office, pubs and launderette, Rosewood also has in walking distance a chemist, hardware, bakery, coffee shops, and a takeaway pizza outlet.  The local golf club also hosts Fri/Sat night dinners.

Only 20 minutes away, Ipswich has the Riverlink Shopping Centre with many specialty shops, dining and entertainment options.  There is also Willowbank Raceway, The Workshops Rail Museum, RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre, wineries, hot air balloon rides, helicopter rides or motorcycle trike tours, historical buildings and beautiful parks & gardens to explore. 

The Caravan/Camping Ground is situated in the Showgrounds, in Rosewood, 17 km west of Ipswich, a semi-rural town within one hour of Brisbane and close to the beautiful Scenic Rim. The Showground is walking distance to a supermarket, chemist, doctors, post office, coffee shops, hotels, hairdressers, banks, churches, a newsagent and the electric train to Brisbane.

• Operated by the Lions Club of Rosewood
• Caters for tents, camper vans, caravans and motorhomes
• 16 powered sites, equipped with water and drainage
• 40 to 50 additional sites without power
• Sites $15 per night
• Maximum stay - 7 consecutive nights
• Dump Point available in the near future  
• The park closed for Rosewood Show and some other events 
• For access and bookings - phone 0481 382 049