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Caravanning News is registered with the National Library of Australia's PANDORA archive

SEPTEMBER 2018
 

  BREAKING NEWS

SEPTEMBER 30:
Caravanners were battered by thunderstorm super-cell packing savage winds in Childers and Bundaberg in Queensland this afternoon. Shops in Childers were flooded, powerlines and trees brought down and trees stripped of foliage, The small hail appeared almost like snow as it covered streets and properties. One caravanner described on Caravanning News' Facebook page how their car had been damaged but their caravan escaped unscathed.

SEPTEMBER 30:
Fight involving several people at Clermont caravan park overnight left 20yo man fighting for life. Police said he sustained severe knife wound to neck and is in critical condition. A 41yo man has been arrested.

SEPTEMBER 28:
Motorcyclist seriously injured in accident with caravan on
Newell Hwy at Boggabilla, on Queensland and NSW border.

SEPTEMBER 28:
Queensland's Goondiwindi Regional Council had decided not to continue the trial of the free camping site in town. Mayor Graeme Scheu said that while the issue attracted vigorous debate, council agreed in the end that it could not warrant investing extra ratepayer’s funds into the possibility of extending the trial.

SEPTEMBER 27:
Multi-award winning Nova Caravans and Melbourne Polytechnic join forces in new Victorian Government $2.2 million Caravan Manufacturing Excellence Program which will benefit entire RV industry.

SEPTEMBER 27:
Shares in major RV rental, retail and manufacturing company Apollo Tourism and Leisure continue to dive, closing at new year-low of $1.30 yesterday.

SEPTEMBER 27:
Aspen Group has bought the Highway 1 Caravan & Tourist Park at Bolivar in SA for $23 million, it was disclosed today. The deal also includes a call option to buy the adjoining 4.64 hectares for further expansion.

Lego celebration cakeSEPTEMBER 26:
Caravanning Queensland together with Top Parks were today officially recognised as holders of a new Guinness World Records title for the largest ever LEGO caravan. Guinness World Records adjudicator Brian Sobel announced the news after inspecting the caravan at the Brisbane Holiday Village this morning. It beat the previous record held ion the UK by 73,472 bricks and will remain on display at the park until September 28.

SEPTEMBER 26:
Stolen pop-top caravan disintegrated after detaching from Toyota Prado and careering into front garden at corner of Taylor and Tor streets in Toowoomba, Queensland. Believed to have been stolen from Westbrook early this morning. Police later arrested two people.

SEPTEMBER 26:
Travellers urged to keep their RVs locked when unattended after reports of increasing thefts from caravan parks at Mt Isa in Queensland.

SEPTEMBER 26:
Emergency crews called to scene of caravan rollover on Western Freeway in Pentland Hills, Victoria, late yesterday afternoon. No serious injuries reported.

SEPTEMBER 25:
Fire crews called to smoking caravan on Cunningham Hwy at Tregony in Queensland but could find no trace of fire. Understood 'van had become detached from tow vehicle.

Caravan 'sale' on emergency laneSEPTEMBER 25:
Caravan and 4WD parked in emergency lane of Melbourne's Princes Freeway at Laverton North caused peak-hour chaos early today. It is thought the owner was trying to sell the caravan which was there for about half an hour before being ordered to move. VicRoads told Caravanning News there was "some sort of advertising" on the rig and the man had at first refused to move on. "It was explained that it was illegal to do this in an emergency lane," a spokeswoman said. "It was causing delays but traffic cleared pretty quickly after the vehicles were removed." Police media said there were no reports of police being involved in the incident.

Inskip Point sinkholeSEPTEMBER 24:
Another sinkhole has opened up near the camping ground at Queensland's Inskip Point east of Gympie. Video footage from Double Island Point Fishing Charters shows a gaping hole said to be around 7.5m deep. A caravan, 4WD and camper trailer were swallowed by the sea when a giant sinkhole sent campers scurrying for safety at Inskip Point in 2015. There have been several minor ones since.

SEPTEMBER 24:
Apollo Tourism and Leisure will hold its AGM at Morgans in Brisbane's Riverside Centre on October 24.

SEPTEMBER 24:
Builder of Australian Winnebagos Avida will increase the price of its motorhomes on October 10.

SEPTEMBER 24:
Man who allegedly spied on woman taking shower at Byron Bay caravan park charged with trespass and peep or pry and will appear in court on November 18.

SEPTEMBER 23:
Man (45) and seven-year-old girl taken to hospital after car and caravan accident on Queensland's Dawson Highway south of Springsure.

SEPTEMBER 21:
The Caravan Industry Association of Australia and BIG4 Holiday Parks today announced a multi-year partnership to grow the leisure accommodation market in Australia. BIG4 chief executive Steven Wright said his holiday park network was looking forward to working more closely with Australia's peak body in the caravanning and camping industry. "We have a number of exciting initiatives we’ll be working on together including large scale consumer promotions to draw more attention to the benefits of holidaying in the great outdoors across our beautiful country," he added.

LEGO caravanSEPTEMBER 21:
The world's biggest caravan made entirely from LEGO bricks has arrived at the Brisbane Holiday Village. Modelled on a 1973 Viscount Royal, it will feature in five days of LEGO-themed activities at the park in Eight Mile Plains beginning September 24. Highlight will be the official presentation on September 26 of the Guinness World Record award for the Biggest LEGO Caravan. The project was funded by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia and Top Parks and took pride of place at this year's Queensland Caravan Camping & Touring Supershow in Brisbane. It took more than 10 weeks, 500 man-hours, 700kg of LEGO bricks, 70 litres of glue and a team of over 16 volunteers to complete the 2.2-metre-tall 5m-long caravan, which is fully equipped with wardrobe, double bed, stove, sink, refrigerator, dinette and cupboards with sliding drawers.

SEPTEMBER 21:
Shares in Apollo Tourism and Leisure continue to fall, losing 32c in the past four weeks. They were at a year-low of $1.35 at the close of business yesterday. The global company's shares have been losing value since it acquired the Coromal and Windsor caravan brands from Fleetwood Corporation.

SEPTEMBER 20:
Tasmania's Bicheno Caravan Park and Take Away has taken to the online Backpacker Job Board to recruit staff. "We are looking for happy, bubbly, reliable workers," the park says, adding that "good speaking English" was also required.

SEPTEMBER 20:
UPDATE - Police this afternoon said the man had been found "safe and well". No further details given. Air and land search underway for man reported missing from a camping ground 20km from Lockhart River in far north Queensland. The 69-year-old left the camp site at about 11am yesterday but has failed to return. Some of his belongings were located in the area, with an initial search to locate him being unsuccessful.

SEPTEMBER 20:
Man lost four fingers and part of thumb when attacked with samurai sword during altercation at Gympie Road caravan park in north Brisbane last night. Alleged attacker charged with grievous bodily harm and was appearing in Pine Rivers Magistrates Court today.

SEPTEMBER 19:
Motorist whose Mazda collided with caravan on NSW's Newell Hwy near Bellata yesterday now charged with negligent driving, driving with mid-range PCA, possessing prohibited drug and supplying commercial quantity of cannabis. The 44-year-old man from Queensland has been bailed to appear at Narrabri Local Court on October 23.

SEPTEMBER 19:
Victoria's peak caravanning body will stage its inaugural 2018 Victorian Caravan Industry Trade Exhibition on September 26. The Caravan Industry Association Victoria event will be free and provide an opportunity for manufacturers, dealers, retailers, associated services, service and repair businesses to see the latest products, innovation, technologies while generating new business with multiple suppliers all at one location. More than 25 businesses will showcase their products and services at  Melbourne Polytechnic (Epping Campus), offering the opportunity to speak with multiple suppliers all at once and help businesses with products and features for the 2019 products. "This day is relevant for all sectors of the industry as it provides businesses the opportunity to see the latest products but also business development and assistance," the association's Darian Wilkins said. It will also launch a government grant project worth $2.2 million. The project will develop a new innovative way of training employees in the caravan manufacturing industry, he added.

SEPTEMBER 19:
Caravan parked in Jakeman Drive at Agnes Water badly damaged by bushfire which raged through parts of the tourist town north of Bundaberg, Queensland.

SEPTEMBER 18:
Car and caravan in rollover on Mitchell Highway east of Dubbo in NSW. Emergency services in attendance but understood two caravanners in their 50s suffered only minor injuries.

SEPTEMBER 18:
Emergency services at scene of caravan accident on NSW's Newell Highway at Gurley this morning. Car and caravan reportedly clear of carriageways. No further details available.

SEPTEMBER 17:
Big-hearted members of the Retreat Caravans owners' club who attended last week's rally at Maryborough showgrounds raised $14,175 for the Cancer Council of Queensland.

SEPTEMBER 17:
Police checking footage from security cameras after thieves made off with alcohol from two fridges at Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park in NSW on the weekend.

SEPTEMBER 14:
Members of Australia's caravan industry planning to attend the World RV Conference in China next month are being warned of its cancellation. "We understand that there have been a number of Australians considering travelling to Shanghai in October," the Caravan Industry Association of Australia said today. "Please be advised that the steering committee has cancelled the event due to ground logistical problems."

Nullarbor RoadhouseSEPTEMBER 13:
Three roadhouses offering nearly 200 caravan sites between them are on the market for an all-in price of around $30m, though they can also be bought individually. They are the Northern Territory's Erldunda Roadhouse (billed as the 'centre of the centre of Australia') and The Border Village and Nullarbor roadhouses, both on the Eyre Hwy in SA. They are owned by Brisbane-based company Nullarbor Holdings, with the sale being handled by Resort Brokers Australia. Photo: RVs at the Nullarbor Roadhouse.

SEPTEMBER 13:
Police searching for hungry intruders who ransacked a holiday caravan at Riverbank Caravan Park in Nathalia, northern Victoria, and made off with food and other property.

SEPTEMBER 12:
Police investigating theft of portable fridge and safe from site at Kingaroy caravan park, Queensland.

SEPTEMBER 12:
Female pedestrian flown to Brisbane hospital with head and leg injuries after accident involving motorhome on Laidley-Rosewood Road at Laidley.

SEPTEMBER 12:
Shares in Apollo Tourism and Leisure continue to fall, closing at year-low of $1.37 yesterday.

SEPTEMBER 12:
West Beach Parks in Adelaide, formally known as West Beach Caravan Park, is today celebrating its 60th anniversary.

SEPTEMBER 11:
Number plates (840 XTA) stolen from vehicle at Tara caravan park in Queensland. Police inquiries are continuing.

Stolen bikes from Cotton Tree Caravan ParkSEPTEMBER 11:
Thieves made off with Anaconda 'Fluid' brand bicycles from the Cotton Tree Caravan Park on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Police have now appealed for help from the public to help trace the bikes. And they have urged holidaymakers to secure valuable items such as bicycles, fishing rods, wallets, purses, mobile phones, eskies and alcohol and where possible placed out of sight.

SEPTEMBER 11:
Shares in Brisbane-based global RV company Apollo Tourism and Leisure opened at a year-low of $1.415 today.

Topping up water tank on caravanSEPTEMBER 6:
Travellers in caravans and other RVs report difficulty in filling their onboard water tanks in some drought-affected areas of Queensland and NSW. Stories surfacing of servos refusing them water and others charging them for the privilege. One grey nomad said it was now common to find taps without handles, particularly in towns.

SEPTEMBER 8:
Campground and recreation area at WA's Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park has reopened after more than $4.2 million in upgrades.

SEPTEMBER 8:
Government officials and representatives of the caravan industry attended the unveiling of Victorian caravan manufacturer JB Caravans' new showroom-factory in Sydney Rd, Campbellfield, yesterday.

SEPTEMBER 7:
Prospective grey nomads are forking out millions of dollars in cash for their luxury RVs, according to Apollo Tourism and Leisure. "Very few use any form of finance," chief executive Luke Trouchet says. The global Brisbane-based company sold $139 million of RVs including caravans, motorhomes and camper trailers in the last year. And Apollo will soon take over the manufacturing of the Windsor and Coromal caravans after buying the brands' goodwill from Perth-based Fleetwood Corporation for $1 million.

Camec logoSEPTEMBER 5:
Camec, part of Fleetwood Corp which has offloaded its Coromal and Windsor caravans business to Apollo Tourism and Leisure, is brushing up its image. Acquired by Fleetwood in 2000, it believes it has lost its marketing message and now is the perfect time to look at the business and identify all touchpoints Camec has in the market. "Passion needs to start in the business and spread out to all customers through service, product development and overall brand experience," it said. "Camec is driven by a passion for improving the travel and holiday experiences for all RV and caravan travellers throughout Australia and New Zealand. Understanding the need for reliability on the road, Camec provides easy access to a wide range of RV and Caravan accessories that enable everyday comfort for everyone." It plans to launch a new website.

SEPTEMBER 5:
The Australian Caravan Club's newest branch – ACC Blue Mountain Explorers – will hold its first muster at Blackheath Glen Tourist Park from September 21 to 23.

SEPTEMBER 4:
The 'No Dogs Allowed' signs have been removed from the Maryborough Airport RV site in Queensland. "The leaseholder put the signs up in good faith but Council has decided they should be removed until further consideration is given to this matter at a future meeting," Fraser Coast Regional Council chief executive Ken Diehm said today. "No tickets were handed out and no enforcement action will be taken. The Community has worked hard to develop the RV facilities in the city to attract visitors to the region. The RV community is tight-kinit and we hope word will spread quickly that the signs have been removed."

SEPTEMBER 4:
Tenterfield Lodge and Caravan Park, holder of three TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence and member of the Kui Parks chain, will go head-to-head with 11 other contenders for gold in the New England North West Regional Business Awards' excellence in small business category on September 21.

John Williamson goes caravanning in boyhood daysSEPTEMBER 4:
Iconic Aussie singer and songwriter John Williamson tells of his boyhood caravanning experiences in a new series of Caravan and Camping With The Stars videos produced by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia. He describes camping as a "real equaliser". Footage includes shots of his family during its annual two-week holiday in a tiny teardrop-type caravan towed by an old Ford Customline car. The series will involve discussions with well-known Australians as they share some of their favourite caravan and camping memories. To view the video, click here.

SEPTEMBER 4:
Aspen Group, which owns a network of holiday and accommodation parks across Australia, has signed a Heads of Agreement to acquire a "mixed use" property which would expand its affordable accommodation portfolio by more than $20 million.

DoggieSEPTEMBER 4:
Sydney's four-day pet-friendly Caravan Camping Outdoor Lifestyle Expo, which opens on September 20 at Sydney Olympic Park showgrounds, will feature an RSCPA Doggy Rest Stop offering free pet checks and other tips on how to keep caravanners' canines in tip-top shape when holidaying.

SEPTEMBER 4:
Members of the nationwide Australian Caravan Club are being urged to donate as little as $1 to its drought relief fund. Club chairman Craig Humphrey said the club would make a further contribution of up to $2500. "The plight of those working on the land is dire, with seemingly no weather relief in sight," he said. "It is difficult to single out a specific charity so we will endeavour to place our donation across a number of different charities in affected states or territories."

SEPTEMBER 2:
There are fears the Gold Coast's Southport caravan park could disappear after being named as one of the possible sites being considered by the State Government for a new $1 billion "global tourist hub" featuring a glitzy casino.

SEPTEMBER 1:
Thieves made off with Waeco fridge and several bicycles from Elliott Heads Caravan Park near Bundaberg in Queensland.

** BREAKING NEWS - AUGUST 2018
** BREAKING NEWS - JULY 2018

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the prior written permission of Dennis Amor.

Copyright 2005 Dennis Amor
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