July 2010

CEO hands over the reins, but . . .

Retirement will not mean lazy times for Oz Parks founder

Mr Corrall with staff members from the Lane Cove River Tourist Park, members of the Oz Parks chain

THE leader of the go-ahead Oz Parks chain of caravan parks has retired from his position of chief executive officer.

John Corrall, who founded the organisation with wife Jane five years ago, has handed over the reins to Michael Guthrie, younger brother of Noel Guthrie who built up the Family Parks chain.

Mr Guthrie's wife Jennifer will use her office management expertise in her new role of office controller.

Mr Corrall told Caravanning News: "The past five years have not only been rewarding and a labour of love, but we've made some really good friends along the way."

He said Oz Parks now boasted 35 member parks throughout the country and expected to dramatically increase that number over the next 18 months.

"As the numbers grew we found that the office work load increased to such an extent that we could not spend the amount of time required to get out on the road and recruit additional parks," Mr Corrall explained.

"This, together with a serious medical problem last year, brought forward our retirement plans."

But he said retirement would not involve "just sitting about drinking a drop of red and fishing".

"I will remain a consultant director of Oz Parks, assisting the new management team and helping our member parks further improve their level of service and facilities."

Mr Corrall said he and his wife would also endeavour to recruit additional parks during their caravanning travels and he expected to be occasionally "called up" to help at caravan shows.

"I'll also continue to contribute to a number of internet RV forums and assist members and friends to choose appropriate caravans to suit their individual needs and budget and not be caught out with a lemon," he added.

After selling their caravan park in 2003, Mr and Mrs Corrall considered joining an existing chain, but found that they either did not meet their needs or were too expensive.

"Many guests kept asking where they could find other lovely clean parks, so with this in mind we set out to establish a chain that catered for the traveller who didn't need all the bells and whistles," Mr Corrall said.

"And thus, Oz Parks was born in July, 2005."

Mr Guthrie told us he was looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"Oz Parks is very small at the moment compared to the big boys," he said. "We are still in our infancy because it takes quite a few years to get out there and grow, but I hope to build it substantially over the next 12 months."

He explained that his chain had targeted smaller and quieter parks, though it would never "knock back" resort parks.

"We are keeping our fees very, very reasonable and are doing all the shows during the year," he explained. "Things are going very well and I would be talking to about 22 parks at the moment. If I can get a few of those I'll be quite happy."

Mr Guthrie was looking forward to the future, describing the caravan industry as huge.

"From what I can see, 30 percent of the baby boomer generation will buy a caravan when they retire, and they have got to have somewhere to put them," he added.