JUNE 24:
One person taken to hospital after a caravan accident on the Dawson
Highway in Queensland today. Reports said the caravan rolled onto its side
in the smash involving another car at the intersection of Tognolini
Baldwin Rd, about 3km from Biloela. Queensland Ambulance Service said two
people were treated at the scene, with one being taken to hospital as a
precaution.
JUNE
23:
A grey nomad was killed while unhitching his caravan outside a house at
Coomera on Gold Coast today. Police said the 64-year-old caravanner's 4WD
suddenly began rolling forward on an incline, pinning him underneath.
Horrified neighbours in Madison Road ran to help lift the LandCruiser but
the man died at the scene. It is thought he and his wife had hauled their
Jayco Sterling caravan from Western Australia and were house-sitting at
the time of the tragedy. Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
JUNE
20:
Perth's major Coromal
and Windsor dealer, Cannington RV Centre, is closing down. The former
dealer of the year will pull down the shutters on July 16. One member of
staff blamed a decision by the caravan's manufacturer, Fleetwood
Corporation, to appoint a third dealer in the already struggling Perth
market, together with the "enormous strain" of dealing with warranty
issues with new caravans. The business is selling $3 million worth of
stock. Cannington's general manager Jocelyn Leevers said all customer
orders and recently sold caravans would be delivered. "It is with sadness
that the owners have decided to leave the caravan industry. Staff will
still have jobs with a totally new independent new dealership."
JUNE 20:
Northbound traffic affected after car towing caravan involved in
accident on NSW's Newell Highway near Nashs Road, Gowang, this afternoon.
No one reportedly injured but authorities said "vehicle salvage operation"
underway.
JUNE 19:
Truck and caravan in accident at junction of George Street and
Pennant Hills Road in Pennant Hills, NSW. Emergency crews in attendance.
No further details available.
JUNE
19:
Caravanners escaped serious injuries when their rig overturned on
Queensland's Bruce Highway north of Nambour today. The single-axle caravan
and tow vehicle, believed to be an X-Trail, came to grief while travelling
south. Both vehicles came to rest in a ditch dividing the north and
southbound lanes of the busy highway. The caravan was completely wrecked.
No other vehicle is thought to have been involved.
JUNE 19:
A caravan erupted into a fireball at a West Ballina caravan park in NSW
today. Two people managed to scramble clear as flames leapt from the
caravan, which was completely destroyed at the Hibiscus Gardens Caravan
Park. Another caravan was evacuated. Firefighters moved gas cylinders and
sprayed them with water to prevent an explosion. Paramedics rushed to the
park but no one required hospital treatment. The cause of the blaze was
being investigated.
JUNE 17:
Campbellfield's family-owned and operated Retreat Caravans is planning a
four-day September national rally of owners to raise funds for cancer
research. It will be held at the Australian Rural Education Centre in
Mudgee, NSW.
JUNE 16:
Volkswagen towing caravan involved in collision with another car
in Bargara at Bundaberg, Queensland, today. No one hurt.
JUNE 16:
Cheeky thieves knew exactly what they were after when they targeted a
caravan in Victoria. They carefully snipped their way through a wire fence
at the Werribee Lions Club premises in Ballan Road, ripped a hole in a
cover over the 1981 Jayco ... and escaped with just its door after
carefully removing the screws! Local police are investigating.
JUNE
15:
A 4WD with a caravan in tow erupted in flames near Heysen Tunnels on South
Eastern Freeway's uptrack heading out of Adelaide this afternoon. Two
caravanners scrambled uninjured from the burning vehicle, which was
destroyed. The single-axle pop-top caravan was also destroyed in the
inferno. SA Country Fire Service said the rig was "fully involved with
fire" when emergency services arrived. The estimated damage bill is
between $80,000 and $90,000. A spokesperson said the cause of the fire was
unknown at this stage.
JUNE
14:
Shares in
Coromal and Windsor caravans builder Fleetwood Corporation had leapt to
year-high of $2.39 at close of business yesterday. The news came as the
Perth-based company announced that an extraordinary general meeting would
be held on July 25 to discuss modifying its constitution.
JUNE 14:
Victoria's Latrobe Council plans to hold public forum to discuss
its July 1 takeover Port Sorell Lions Caravan Park ... nearly three weeks
after it takes over the reins.
JUNE 13:
Five people travelling in motorhome escaped relatively unscathed when it
rolled into ditch at side of Queensland's Bruce Highway south of Tiaro
today. Three of them managed to scramble clear through a rooflight in the Iveco,
which had been towing a dual-axle caravan. It is believed the vehicles were travelling back from a major caravanning and camping show which wrapped up
in Brisbane yesterday.
JUNE
13:
Former church converted into air-conditioned two-bedroomed home at Marmor
south of Rockhampton attracting much interest from southern grey nomads
visiting Queensland and wanting a base to enjoy the state's winter
sunshine, says Ray White real estate agent Barry Nicholson. It's on the
market for $125,000 neg.
JUNE 13:
Caravan sales and attendance figures at Brisbane's major RV show which
closed yesterday were significantly down on last year, according to
unconfirmed reports.
JUNE
9:
The Caravan Trade Industry Association of Victoria has welcomed
the voluntary safety recall of the Control Rider TS Suspension System from
its "longstanding and well established" member, G&S Chassis. In a
statement released today, the association commended the company for its
"obvious concern for customers" by initiating the recall on a small number
of caravan chassis. "G&S Chassis manufacture over 4500 chassis per year
and it was through their extensive experience that it came to their notice
that a small number of early chassis (less than 0.5 percent of chassis
produced) have exhibited a trailing arm weld failure," the statement said.
"The association has been advised of no instances of accident or injury
relating to this product, and support G&S Chassis with their swift
proactive approach to addressing their concerns for this product. G&S
Chassis are complying with their legal obligations to ensure customer
safety and are conducting the voluntary recall in line with the ACCC
guidelines."
JUNE 9:
Police were today investigating a horror smash in which two grey
nomads in their mid-60s were killed when their Mitsubishi Triton ute
towing a caravan collided with a truck on the Cobb Highway near Wanganella
in southern NSW. Reports suggest that the Victorian travellers' rig, which
was heading north, may have veered into the path of the cattle-carrying
B-double. It took several hours to extricate the crumpled ute from
underneath the truck. A report is being prepared for the Coroner.
JUNE 8:
Two elderly caravanners airlifted to hospital after their rig
overturned on NT's Stuart Highway just north of Daly Waters. Man in 70s
understood to have head injuries and woman suspected internal injuries.
JUNE 8:
Lotus Caravans report that "a small number" of its RVs fitted with early
model control rider twin shock suspensions and built between May 2015 and
June last last year are being recalled. The company says in a letter to
owners that the suspension systems are showing signs of a trailing arm
weld failure. "We therefore strongly recommend that you immediately stop
towing your caravan until it can be determined whether the suspension
system fitted is affected by the G&S recall," the letter says. Lotus
advises owners to contact Campbellfield-based G&S Chassis for advice.
JUNE
8:
Victorian singer, instrumentalist and songwriter Andrew Swift will
be entertaining guests at caravan parks between Rainbow Beach and Airlie
Beach in Queensland. His tour, sponsored by caravan dealers Jayco Mackay
and Jayco Warburton Caravans (Bundaberg), begins June 23 and ends July 9.
JUNE 8:
Three caravans stolen on NSW's Central Coast during the last six weeks
were recovered during a police raid. A man, 42, was arrested as officers
searched a property at Millfield. He was charged with receivng stolen
property and firearms offences.
JUNE
6:
Caravan Industry Association of Australia has welcomed National
Heavy Vehicle Regulator support for an education and awareness campaign to
help truckies and travellers in recreational vehicles "coexist" on the
road and at rest areas. Chief executive Stuart Lamont said the initiative
was one of 12 programs approved for a share of $3.9 million funding by the
NHVR, supported by the Federal Government. A partnership education program
would address growing "conflicts" between RV users and heavy vehicle
drivers. "The campaign will inform RV travellers about the appropriate use
of rest stop sites and the risks associated with disruptive behaviour to
help foster a safer environment for all road users," he said.
JUNE 5:
Driver dies after his hired Holden SUV collided head-on with Mitsubishi
4WD towing caravan on Indian Ocean Drive south of Lancelin in WA this
afternoon. Caravanners, thought to be in their 60s, taken to hospital
suffering non-life threatening injuries. The dead man's partner and two
children also taken to hospital. Witnesses, who described the crash scene
as "carnage", claim the SUV veered to the wrong side of the road before
the crash. Wreckage from the caravan was scattered all over the road.
JUNE
5:
Heartless caravan crooks have ruined a Victorian family's planned trip to
Queensland. The thieves made off with the Miller's Jayco Hawk
pop-top (pictured) after removing a fence at their Kangaroo Flat property.
"We had basically gutted it and renovated it from scratch,” Melissa Miller
told local media. She said her two sons aged seven and nine had been
looking forward to the upcoming school holiday trip to the Sunshine State.
The caravan's registration - Q61902 - had been welded onto the drawbar.
Anyone with information should call Bendigo Police on (03) 5448 1300,
Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report it online at
www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
JUNE
2:
Boundary Bend General Store & Caravan Park on Victoria's Murray
Valley Highway is on the market for $1.395 million. The Riordan family
developed the 44-site park between Swan Hill and Robinvale-Euston 12 years
ago. It is currently operated under management but, they say, would suit
"hands on" operators. Advertising material says its accommodation income is
derived from annuals, tourists, seasonal workers and residents. Its net
profit is said to be $206,932.
