AUGUST 21:
Grey nomad Colin Caudell's life was shattered when his wife of 35 years Suzanne was killed by a huge speeding truck on Queensland's notorious Bruce Highway In 2013. Mr Caudell told Caravanning News today: "My life changed forever with the tragic and violent death of my wife." He was speaking before launching his new book Pick Myself Up & Dust Myself Off at the Coolum Beach Bowls Club on the Sunshine Coast. It tells how he coped after the dreadful accident, which he describes as the worst 30 minutes of his life. Photo: A black hard hat over a white cross marks the spot on the Bruce Highway where Suzanne's life was torn from her.

AUGUST 20:
Ingenia Communities, which operates a chain of holiday and lifestyle parks, delivered an underlying profit of $47.2 million during the last financial year ... a rise of 28 percent. Its results, released today, revealed that revenue increased 21 percent to $228.7 million. Meanwhile, Aspen Group which also operates holiday and leisure parks, reported a statutory loss of $2.92 million for the year. After adjusting devaluations, transaction cost and other non-underlying items, it achieved an underlying profit of $4.96 million. The value of its portfolio rose 20 percent to $128 million, mainly due to it acquiring Adelaide's Highway 1 Caravan and Tourist Park for $23 million. The resort had performed below budget in the few months after last October's purchase but was now improving after appointing a new management team. Aspen's Darwin FreeSpirit Resort's income was below expectations due partly to "patchy tourist demand", disruptive management changes and poor cost control. It had now stabilised with the appointment of a new manager and reduction in labour costs, Aspen said..

AUGUST 20:
A trap has been set for an unwelcome guest at the BIG4 Rollingstone Beach Front Resort, Townsville. A 3-metre crocodile has twice been seen in a lake at the Queensland park.

AUGUST 20:
IT'S been 15 years in the making but a new $30 million development at remote and pristine Rules Beach in Queensland will soon be echoing to the sound of residents and caravanners. Work has started after planning approval was given for an enclave comprising a 95-site "world class" caravan park, 42 holiday villas and 15 beachfront houses.

AUGUST 19:
Kedron Owners Group's Christmas gathering and AGM at the Kilkivan Bush Camping & Caravan Park in Queensland between November 6 and 10 will carry the theme 'Travel Safely'.

AUGUST 19:
Opportunist crooks out for a bargain made off with an Avan camper trailer left with a 'For Sale' sign at the side of a NSW road. The RV was parked at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Cullendulla Drive, Long Beach, north of Batemans Bay. It was advertised for sale by the owner and left unattended. The two-year-old camper carried the NSW registration TE31AL. Police have appealed for anyone with dashcam footage of people stopping at the location between August 9 and 11 to contact them on (02) 44720099.

AUGUST 19:
Councillor Christine Simpson will on Wednesday urge the NT's Litchfield Council to investigate the possibility of the CMCA setting up an RV-friendly park in the area.

AUGUST 19;
Two 39-year-old men who allegedly stole a caravan from a South Australian storage yard were caught ... after returning to steal another vehicle. After seeing their ute arrive back at the yard on Greenwith Road, Golden Grove, witnesses closed the property gates and locked them in before calling police. The stolen caravan was located by patrols a short distance away. The men will appear in court at a later date.

AUGUST 18:
Queensland's Bundaberg Regional Council will spend $1.2 million on upgrades at its popular Miara and Moore Park Beach caravan parks.

AUGUST 17:
Developers are reportedly showing a keen interest in Townsville's Secura Lifestyle The Lakes Holiday Park in Queensland which is on the market. Expressions of interest in the popular caravan park close on September 12. The lakeside holiday destination offers 87 ensuite caravan sites, 20 cabins and villas of varying style with 16 utilising detached ensuites. It is being marketed by Neville Smith and Angelo Castorina of Colliers International. The Woolcock Street property's 'highest and best use' is as a redevelopment site, according to their advertising material. Development approval for 226 apartments in five detached four to six-level towers expired in 2017. "The opportunity that exists is a 2.66 hectare redevelopment site in a CBD fringe location near a major shopping centre, food outlets and medical facilities and with lake frontage," the advertising material adds.

AUGUST 17:
The 4600-member Australian Caravan Club has announced it will hold next year's eight-day National Muster at Rockhampton Showgrounds beginning on October 18.

AUGUST 15:
A caravanner and his young grandson were hurt in a tow vehicle and caravan rollover on Queensland's Bruce Highway near Booyal between Childers and Gin Gin this afternoon. The toddler and man in 60s complaining of neck pains taken by ambulance to Bundaberg Base Hospital in a stable condition. No other vehicles were involved in the accident. A police spokesperson said they were lucky not to have been more seriously injured.

AUGUST 15:
Caravan Industry Association of Australia has joined forces with The University of Queensland on a new project providing "mutual benefits". It offers students an opportunity to complete internships and work on project-based industry research as part of work-integrated university learning. "Working directly with the universities and students also benefits the industry with fresh ideas and the latest university leanings while also showcasing the varied and exciting career opportunities in the Australian caravan and camping industry," the association said.

AUGUST 15:
Fleetwood Corporation, who operates caravan industry suppliers Camec and Melbourne-based Northern RV, will release its full-year results on August 29.

AUGUST 15:
Apollo Tourism and Leisure has appointed Brett Heading as an alternate director to chairman Stephen Lonie who, Apollo says, "may need to absent himself from board and committee meetings for personal reasons during the next couple of months". Mr Heading is a long-term member of the company's advisory board.

AUGUST 14:
Mount Isa police in Queensland have warned caravanners to ramp up their security after a spate of thefts. They say five of six recent robberies at the city's caravan parks could have been prevented. Sergeant Whitney Lacy warned that thieves were aware of the likelihood of easy access to unsecured vehicles, caravans and personal items. "Just ensure that your relaxed and carefree holiday mood doesn't affect your ability to maintain appropriate security measures," she said. "Caravan parks can serve as ideal locations for opportunistic offenders." Sgt Lacy said many offences went unreported because travellers were usually eager to continue with their holiday plans.

AUGUST 12:
TWO caravanners ‒ and their cockatiel, Max -‒escaped unscathed in a dramatic smash in NSW today. Their rig rolled after colliding with a fuel tanker at Werris Creek near Tamworth. RFS crews, HAZMAT, police and the ambulance service attended the scene on Werris Creek Road. Both vehicles careered off the road, with the New Age caravan ending up on its side. Reports said the fuel tanker leaked a small amount of fuel which was dealt with by fire crews. Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

AUGUST 12:
Man, 68, died after his dual cab ute collided with another towing camper trailer on Peninsular Development Road south of Bamaga in Queensland. His passenger and the 64-year-old male driver and female passenger, 38, from the dual cab towing the camper were also taken to Bamaga Hospital for treatment.

AUGUST 11:
Experts today trying to find cause of $100,000 blaze which destroyed home and caravan at Sturt Rd, Cambrai, SA. Four people treated on site while one was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

AUGUST 10:
Caravan parks at Longreach in Queensland will feature in a special celebration on August 19 to mark a milestone in the founding of Australia’s National Airline, Qantas. They will welcome a Qantas Founders Museum’s Model T Ford which will be touring the outback town as part of the 100th anniversary of a 51-day drive by three World War One veterans through Northern Australia. The trip across remote and rough terrain by Longreach mechanic George Gorham and pilots Paul McGinness and Hudson Fysh led to the idea of an air service for Northern Australia.

AUGUST 10:
As more and more caravanners hit the road with their animal friends, Jayco has launched a nationwide survey to find out how many travel with their pets ... and why. To take the survey, click here.

AUGUST 8:
Reports coming in of caravan flipping in high winds on Queensland's Warrego Highway about 7km west of Dulacca. No further details at this stage.

AUGUST 8:
The Devils Marbles Hotel and Caravan Park, on the Stuart Highway 392km north of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, is on the market for $2.2 million.

AUGUST 7:
Justice Wheelahan, who is hearing a case brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission against Jayco Corporation in the Victorian Federal Court for alleged 'unconscionable conduct' involving four faulty caravans, has reserved judgement.

AUGUST 6:
Parking caravans on Gold Coast streets may soon be restricted. City councillors have voted unanimously for a report to be compiled on regulating street parking for trailers, boats and caravans. Options include a one-hour time limit on streets outside traffic or timed parking areas. The motion was moved by Clr Paul Taylor, who is reported to have said: "The kerbside is not a storage place." (A topic certainly attracting much attention. Within hours of Caravanning News posting this story on its Facebook page it had reached nearly 12,000 people, had 1838 engagements and attracted 50 comments)

AUGUST 6:
Apollo Tourism and Leisure today announced plans to release it financial results for the 2018-2019 financial year on August 29.

AUGUST 6:
Owners of Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo campervans are waking up to a recall. An ACCC notice warns that metallic components under the roof bed mattress could rust in humid conditions, weakening the roof structure and stability of the body. "If the hinges corrode, they may break and pose a risk of injury to the user," it says. More than 150 campervans built between 2 April 2017 and 31 October 2018 could be affected. Owners should contact an authorised Mercedes-Benz retailer for advice and a free repair.

AUGUST 6:
Federal Court hearing of ACCC's action against Jayco Corporation alleging 'unconscionable conduct' involving four faulty caravans continues before Justice Wheelahan in Melbourne today.

AUGUST 6:
Mount Remarkable District Council in SA agrees to sponsor 'A Ride to Remember' event by providing two family cabins at Melrose Caravan and Tourist Park on September 23.

AUGUST 5:
Shares in holiday and leisure parks operator Ingenia Communities Group opened at a 52-week high of $3.53 today.

AUGUST 4:
Kuranda Range near Cairns in north Qld partly blocked after caravan and 4WD jackknifed and ended up in culvert.  No further details available.

AUGUST 2:
East Coast Caravans at Loganholme south of Brisbane is the latest dealership to be appointed by Nova Caravans.

AUGUST 2:
Reflections Holiday Parks Seal Rocks in NSW carried off the gold award in the Destination North Coast Regional Tourism Awards' Caravan and Holiday Parks category. Silver went to BIG4 Great Lakes at Forster-Tuncurry while BIG4 Sunshine Resort, South West Rocks, won bronze.

AUGUST 1:
Police hunting a man who may have suffered burns after several campervans were destroyed and others damaged by fire at a property at the corner of Storie St and Burwood Tce, Clontarf, north of Brisbane, at around 9pm on July 29.

AUGUST 1:
Bailey UK will stop manufacturing caravans in Australia at the end of this month or soon after, the company announced today.

AUGUST 1:
THE 161-site Albany Gardens Holiday Resort and Lifestyle Village in WA is on the market. The sale is being managed by CBRE in conjunction with Caravan Park Brokers Australia. It is being sold under private treaty and no price has been given. "The properties are well located, being the closest caravan park to the CBD and local amenity - a rarity within Australia," its advertising material says.