The Nomad … news, views, comment, opinion

January 30

Take your Pick
Hi Ho, hi ho ... with the state of our Super accounts ... it’s off to work we go! Yup, no surprise to learn that more grey nomads than ever are heading to the fruit bowls of Australia to help with the harvest this year.
Robert Hayes, from the National Harvest Labour information service, says that when money's tight, people will inevitably look further for work. Too right, Bob. We’ll go anywhere as long as there’s a spot to park the van and a few like-minded folk to have a yarn to.
“We're seeing a broader mix of people on the harvest trail than we have in previous years,” he told the ABC. “There are more retirees, and semi-retired people who are looking for some work, and that's probably a reflection on the current economic circumstances.”
Spot on, Bobby. Just as well fuel prices have come down a bit (although they might be on their way up again now) or I reckon places like Leeton in New South Wales and Gin Gin in Queensland would now be about as popular as Broome in peak season. Jeez, if we have to start queuing to harvest stone fruit and mangoes it could be time to pack in this grey nomadding lark!
Incidentally, for those of you who want to top up your savings with a little hard-earned cash, the newly-updated National Harvest Guide is a fantastic guide to harvest work opportunities, working conditions, transport and accommodation. It covers all states, is totally comprehensive, and is updated monthly.
You can download it for free from: http://jobsearch.gov.au/HarvestTrail/Documents/NationalHarvestGuide.pdf
Or phone the National Harvest Telephone Information Service on 1800 062 332 and ask for a copy to be posted to you.

January 29

A Hot Issue
With the mercury topping 40 degrees in many areas of the south, it’s obviously a time when we need to be especially aware of the danger of bushfires ... and to be particularly careful we don’t inadvertently cause a major problem ourselves.
In Tasmania, the Parks and Wildlife Service is urging campers to take extreme care with campfires in areas where they are still permitted during periods of high fire danger. PWS Fire Operations manager Adrian Pyrke said that escaped campfires are a real risk in the dry conditions currently being experienced in much of the state, particularly the east coast.
“While campfires are one of the pleasures of the camping experience, it’s important that people understand the risk they present in starting bushfires,” Mr Pyrke said. “There have been many incidents in which bushfires have resulted from unattended fires or fires that have been inadequately extinguished and then flared up and escaped when the wind has come up.”
Indeed, the fire that destroyed many homes near Scamander and Four Mile Creek in 2006 started from an escaped campfire.
The PWS says campers should remember that the campfire must be at least three metres away from overhanging branches, stumps, logs, trees, leaf litter and other flammable materials, and should not be lit on peat soils or grassed sand dunes. They also urge that fires should not be left unattended unless they have been completely extinguished.
“During times of hot and dry weather such as we are experiencing this week, campers are asked to consider whether or not they really need a campfire at all,” Mr Pyrke said. “Regular patrols of the popular camping areas are undertaken by staff to ensure campers are using campfires safely.”

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January 28

The Road Ahead
The closure of the flooded Barkly Highway between the Northern Territory and Queensland since early this month has sparked renewed debate about the need for an alternative sealed route.
And it seems the Federal Government is now even coming under pressure from within its own ranks to fund another transcontinental highway.
The Northern Territory Labor Senator Trish Crossin told the ABC that the Federal Roads Minister should make it a priority to fund a link between Laverton in Western Australia to Winton in Queensland.
"I strongly support the Outback Highway Development Council being given these funds,” she said. “I know they're after $50 million over five years but I think that this is a very insignificant amount when you're looking at the cost of building roads in this country.”
She says she's committed to forming an alliance with other politicians to get the Outback Way funded when Federal Parliament resumes.
The collapsed sections of the Barkly Highway should reopen to light traffic soon, but it could be more than a fortnight before they can be used to transport freight.
The owner of the Renner Springs Roadhouse, Christine Paroz, told the ABC that many travellers are becoming increasingly frustrated.
"We're getting a steady flow of people going either to Darwin or going from Darwin back home,” she said. “And we have had quite a bit of feedback from the public to say that they're not happy about the fact that it is the only road going back into Queensland."

• What do you think about the state of the Barkly Highway? Do we need another transcontinental highway? Email us here with your thoughts.

January 27

Out of Sites
Well, the statistics are beginning to bear out the anecdotal evidence suggesting that caravan parks have been particularly popular this summer. Certainly that has been the case in New South Wales where caravan and holiday parks have reported high occupancy, increased ‘first time campers’, and an over demand for sites.
The CEO of the Caravan
and Camping Industry
Association of NSW (CCIA), Barry Baillie, says occupancy has increased by up to 10% for many coastal
holiday parks.
“Over the summer, there was a noticeable increase in people trying a caravan or camping holiday for the first time,” he said, noting that preliminary research indicates that these trends are evident in a majority of New South Wales coastal holiday parks.
Yup, we’ve noticed that too, Barry.
Kevin Sullivan, Group Manager of 12 Holiday Haven Tourist Parks in the Shoalhaven region, says that they have experienced more families and campers than ever before which, unlike previous years, has filtered through to late January.
Caravan and camping sites at BIG4 Nelligen Holiday Park on the NSW South Coast were booked out over the Christmas ‘08 and January ’09 period and cabin accommodation was also booked out.
North Coast holiday parks have been equally popular with the NRMA-owned Darlington Beach Holiday Park north of Coffs Harbour reporting an average 10% increase in occupancy over the December and January period.
“We have noticed that we are attracting more travellers from Brisbane and the Gold Coast and many of these are travelling in camper trailers and compact caravans,” said park manager, Dean Farnham.
The Caravan and Camping Industry Association says the current state of the Australian dollar and the global economy make it a perfect time for people to take advantage of the excellent value offered by a caravan or camping holiday.
Fair enough, guys. I reckon they’ve all earned a break. It’s obviously been good for the park owners’ bottom lines, and I hope all those holidaymakers thoroughly enjoyed their caravanning/camping experience. But hey, isn’t it about time they all went back to work/school or something? I’m sure I’m not the only grey nomad to be relishing a bit of peace and quiet again!

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January 23

Slithering Heights
Paramedics are urging people to be snake aware over the coming months following a number of incidents of snake bites along Queensland’s south east coastline in recent days.
Last week, two people were bitten on both the Gold and Sunshine coasts. While these encounters were not fatal it is a timely reminder of the potential risks.
The Queensland Ambulance Service’s Acting Deputy Commissioner Stephen Gough said recent weather conditions have had an impact on the habitats of both snakes and other reptiles.
“The recent erosion caused by king tides along the coastline has forced many beachgoers to sit along the dunes, placing them at risk of a nasty bite,” he said. “Queensland is home to some of the world’s most venomous snakes such as the Red-bellied Black Snake, the Eastern Brown and the Common Death Adder, so the general public should not become complacent about their safety.”
There are basic prevention strategies that grey nomads and others can follow to minimise the risks of a bite.
• Avoid walking through long grass, but if you have to, wear sturdy enclosed shoes and long pants.
• Take care moving materials such as wood.
• Do not try to pick up or kill a snake – this is when most bites occur.
• When camping – have the campsite well lit at night when snakes are active.
Remember, it pays to be careful but not to become paranoid. Apparently, of the 5000 or so reported snake bites in Australia each year, only one to three people actually die from them.
Have you had any close encounters of the scary and slithery kind? Email us here to tell us your story or to offer tips or comfort to those of us who are perhaps ‘hyper-aware’ of the snake danger.

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January 22

Spots to Stop in Mackay
Mackay Regional Council is finally waking up to the fact that they have helped to create a grey nomad stopping place crisis in the area.
Over the past couple of years the number of caravan parks in this glorious part of tropical north Queensland has dwindled as they have been sold off to developers eager to gobble up the often prime, beachfront locations.
Now, the local powers-that-be have decided it just doesn’t make economic sense to heave up a giant ‘No Vacancy’ sign as the army of grey nomads heads north.
The Mackay Daily Mercury newspaper reports that the regional council has been asked to report back on how the city’s showgrounds could be adapted to accommodate the growing army of caravan-driving retirees or 'grey nomads'.
Councillor David Perkins said he wanted to give something back to those who tried to stop in Mackay, but had trouble finding a vacant spot.
“It's really just sounding out some things that are happening around Australia,” he said. “A lot (of the caravans) are self contained these days, and just empty their grey and black water ... we're looking into the costing to put one or two disposal areas in.
The councillor told the Daily Mercury that the report would also look into opening the Sarina and Finch Hatton showgrounds as short-term stops, along with other potential public spaces.
“By the time the grey nomad charge starts in the middle of next year, hopefully we could put in a few places for them to stop.”
He said with caravans only allowed to stay briefly, it wouldn't affect the appearance of the city landmarks.
The report is due to be tabled to council by the end of next month.

• Have you struggled to find accommodation when travelling near Mackay? Email us here.

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January 21

Fish out of Water
You may remember we reported on a fuel economy safari organised by Winnebago and the NRMA in the middle of last year.
Well, it seems, in retrospect, that not everything went according to plan with the glorified PR exercise. Indeed, the leader of the safari and so-called ‘face of the grey nomads’, swimming legend Dawn Fraser, has found herself in hot water for driving a motorhome with the wrong class of licence.
She was pulled over back in July after failing to pull into a weigh station on the F3 at Mt White on the Central Coast. She had been returning the motorhome she had borrowed from Winnebago for the Gold Coast-Winton safari.
According to the Daily Telegraph, police documents show Fraser ignored a sign directing vehicles weighing more than eight tonnes into a weigh station. The specified weight of the Winnebago Alpine 3035SL was 8.7 tonnes. The documents also said Fraser held a Light Rigid class licence when she required a Medium Rigid class licence to drive such a vehicle.
The 71-year-old told the paper she planned to plead guilty when she appears at at Gosford Local Court on January 30. The two traffic offences with which she is charged carry a combined maximum penalty of $4400. While she is prepared to cop a fine and lose demerit points, Fraser said she was hoping to avoid a conviction being recorded.
"I'm an ambassador (for Winnebago), not a very good one as it turns out," she said..
"The motorhome I (usually) drive is 7.2 tonnes and I don't have to go into the weigh station ... we were in a rush to get home and I just didn't even think.”
Fraser has been Winnebago’s ambassador for two-and-a-half years. Next month, she will lead a convoy of 28 motorhomes to Ballarat and across to the Barossa Valley to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

January 20

All the Rest
There’s growing disquiet over the number and quality of rest areas on the stretch of the Pacific Highway between Maclean and Tweed Heads in northern New South Wales.
Casino-based truck driver Graham Thompson said the growing number of 'grey nomads' on the roads was having an impact and that many rest stops in that stretch were often full, forcing drivers to keep going.
“When the rest stops are full your only option is to keep going and wait for the next one, but that might be full as well,” he told the Northern Star newspaper. “There is a need for bigger rest stops because it's a high accident zone.”
Between Maclean and Tweed Heads, there are no rest stops designated just for truck drivers. There are 16 stops which can be used by light and heavy vehicles.
“There has to be places for truckies to stop, especially with all the new rules and regulations on driving hours,” Mr Thompson said. “Caravans are starting to use these rest areas as well.”
Interestingly, according to the NRMA, only 54 per cent of major rest areas on the Pacific Highway comply with minimum standards.
NRMA Motoring and Services director Wendy Machin said many rest areas were not adequate for overnight stays.
“Clearly, action is required to ensure infrastructure is in place to cope with the anticipated increase in trucks and to keep all motorists safe on the road,” she said.
And so say all of us. But with the New South Wales economy in the state it is, we shouldn’t get our hopes up of action any time soon.

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January 19

Going to the Dogs
The Gympie Times has reported that RSPCA refuges are feeling the pressure as more pet owners who plan to take long-term caravanning holidays decide it’s just too hard take their pet along. The limited number of van parks that allow pets in addition to the tough restrictions in other camping spots like national parks has caused some wannabe travellers to surrender their animals to the RSPCA. Michael Betty, an RCPCA spokesman says that most people who take their pets on the road are very responsible. He is urging more van parks to consider allowing pets so that owners will feel more comfortable taking their pets along instead of giving them up to the RSPCA.
Cora Wenerer, who owns the Twin Lakes Caravan Park, has a Labrador and allows her guests to bring their pets. “We have always allowed pets,” she says. “Everyone’s always been fantastic with their pets, we have never had any trouble.”
Hopefully it will give van park owners food for thought. It would be a real shame to see a growing number of family pets abandoned because their owners felt it was the only alternative.

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January 16

The Wading Game
Thanks to all of you who emailed in with updates on the floods in northern Queensland as Cyclone Charlotte swept through earlier this week.
Thanks especially to Christine, aka Cruising Granny, who sent us a picture of this soggy looking scene at the Cairns caravan park where she is staying.
“There is a concrete storm water drain alongside the First City Caravilla Caravan Park and the drain overflowed, and the storm water drain broke its banks further upstream and burst through neighbouring yards and through the park, including the annexe of a resident,” she says. “The king tide of more than three metres slowed down the run-off, holding storm water back, and into the roads, front and backyards.”
Thankfully, Christine reports that the rain has since stopped and the sun has come out ... but more storms and torrential downpours are forecast this weekend.
“After all, it is the wet season in the tropics and one must be prepared for all these events until the end of April,” she says. ”Add humidity of 65% or more all the time, and temperatures in the low to mid-thirties most of the time, and life just proceeds at a slower rate.”
Good on you, Cruising Granny. When you’ve got the freedom and the fitness to be able to cruise this beautiful country long term ... rain, hail or shine ... it’s all good! And it sounds like there’s no place you’d rather be than right where you are.

January 15

A Zeal for Caravanning
There can be no doubt that the world financial crisis is having a massive impact on the grey nomad lifestyle.
But it’s not just our superannuation and our spending power which is being affected. The experts tell us we can expect more Australians taking to the road in a caravan rather than heading off on the now-too-expensive overseas jaunt. And, conversely, would-be international visitors may now prefer to stay home and count their pounds, Euros or dollars. There is one exception however. Anecdotal evidence suggests that our Kiwi cousins are heading our way in greater numbers because, although their spending power has diminished, their thirst for adventure hasn’t. And camping in Australia is relatively close and relatively affordable.
According to the latest statistics from the Visitor Information Centre in Casino in inland New South Wales, for example, there was a sharp increase in visitors from New Zealand to the town between July and September last year. And the Northern Star newspaper says the make-up of Casino’s international visitor clientele is changing.
The town’s visitor services co-ordinator Gael Lewis – herself a Kiwi – told the newspaper that Casino, as a gateway to a dozen national parks, appealed to New Zealanders’ love of the bush. She said visitors were only just beginning to realise what the region had to offer.
“People are wanting to explore the hinterland,” she said, adding that many of the New Zealanders visiting Casino are grey nomads coming to stay at the Casino Village RV Resort.
Have you noticed a growing Kiwi presence around the campsites and caravan parks? Are you a New Zealander discovering the joys of grey nomad lifestyle Aussie-style? Email us here to tell us what you think.

January 14

Charlotte Passes
Welcome news from the north. The weather bureau says heavy rain in north Queensland has eased and the worst of the bad weather in the region appears to be over.
The ABC reports that about 50 millimetres was recorded in Townsville overnight, with ex-Tropical Cyclone Charlotte bringing showers to the western and central interior as it weakens.
Meteorologist Gavin Holcombe says gale-force winds have died down and floodwaters should start receding today.
"As far as flood levels go, obviously there'll be certain rivers that will stay in flood for a while yet - especially on the north tropical coast and also around the Gulf country,” he told the national broadcaster. “But the rainfall is certainly on the wane,"
The total damage bill for the state's far north has already reached $26 million. The priority for authorities now is clean-up and trying to get roads back open.
In Cairns, like many other towns, many drains and roads have been damaged.
"Our roads break up once they get inundated with water and then our drainage systems require a large amount of work after they've been flushed out,” said Councillor Alan Blake. “We always get some land slips and some of those land slips can be expensive," he said.
The Bruce Highway remains cut to most vehicles at the Seymour River south of Cardwell. It is only open to trucks because of water over the road.
Fresh milk, food and medical supplies have been flown into Burketown in Queensland's Gulf country as several communities remain isolated by floodwaters.
It could be several weeks before roads in the region are fully reopened.
Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us here to tell us of your experiences.

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January 13

Impact Investigation
The grey nomad phenomenon as it has become known has had a massive effect in Australia ... upon individual lives, upon the mindset of millions of working people, and, of course, on the environment.
It will be foolhardy to think that our presence in remote and near-pristine environment has not has an impact in the land we visit.
But how much of an impact?
Scientists at the University of WA have mounted perhaps the biggest single study of coastal land use in the world in a bid to monitor the influence of human activity on the State’s coastline north of Carnarvon.   
Project co-ordinator Amanda Davies, of UWA’s School of Earth and Environment, said the mammoth undertaking aimed to document the impact on coastal rangelands of increasing numbers of visitors.
 She said WA’s rangelands were set to see an influx of mining and construction workers and to become a playground for tourists because of the influence of the movie Australia and the expected growth in “grey nomads” — retirees who travel for months at a time.
The two-year, $600,000 study is the first attempt to publish information that is usually only held by the government or by disparate special interest groups.
 “There have been so many studies but nothing linking them together,” Dr Davies told the West Australian newspaper. “We’re trying to illuminate the major issues and identify where future funding is needed.”  
Dr Davies and her team have already spent 20 weeks interviewing fishermen, traditional owners, tourism leaders, locals and visitors from Carnarvon to Derby, and this year will finish canvassing the entire coast up to the Northern Territory border.
A report in the West Australian said that along the way they will encounter humpback whales, sea snakes, wild camels, rogue bulls, feral goats, nesting birds and crocodiles — all of which live along the rangelands coastline.  
The scientists are asking the Government to pledge more money to study the effects of the huge numbers of grey nomads who visit the State’s north.
 “We’re flagging it as an issue that the Government should take a look at. There are very remote camping sites with a capacity that is quite amazing. We’re not really sure what the ecological pressure is,” Dr Davies said.  
Retirees were more likely than other land users to take care of the environment by instigating ad hoc agreements not to fish in certain areas or to limit water consumption, she said.
 But the sheer numbers of tourists in areas such as Kalbarri and the Burrup Peninsula meant that pristine areas may still be damaged.  
The West Australian says the researchers have pledged to make all their results available at www.rangelandswa.com.au, when the project is completed in June.

January 12

Road Destruction Ahead
The shocking state of some well-used tourist roads is back on the agenda after heavy rain last week forced the closure of the Barkly Highway.
Floodwaters have destroyed the roadway and more than two kilometres of damage has been reported along the shoulders, batters and road embankments.
The main supply road between Queensland and the Northern Territory remains closed to all traffic from the Tablelands Highway intersection across to the Queensland border and it could be weeks before it fully re-opens. The Centralian Advocate newspaper reports that once floodwaters recede the highway will initially re-open to light traffic, with a single lane and daylight travel only ... at least until more significant repairs can be completed.
Tourism Central Australia chair Ren Kelly told the paper: "This is a recurring issue, and I think the Territory Government should be asking how much the repairs will cost, and whether we would be better off waiting to complete permanent work that would elevate the road.”
Mr Kelly said the biggest detrimental effects would be felt by the grey nomad and campervan backpacker sectors of the industry.
Motorists are advised to visit roadreport.nt.gov.au for the latest information or call 1800 246 199. 

• Incidentally, the closure of the Barkly Highway due to flooding hasn’t been enough to deter some determined and incredibly reckless travellers from continuing their journeys.
When two overseas tourists came across road closure signs and barriers on the Barkly Highway west of Avon Downs, they inexplicably thought they would avoid the problem by driving their Nissan van onto the dirt Rankin Road.
Police rescued the pair on Thursday morning after their car became bogged about 50km from Avon Downs. And the pair received a $90 traffic infringement notice for ignoring traffic control signs and a blast from police for their trouble.
“The actions of these two were irresponsible and they placed themselves and rescuers at risk,” Superintendent Bruce Porter said in a statement. “There is no easy alternative to this level of flooding, and to assume that a dirt road would be any more passable than a bitumen road is just plain stupid. Commonsense must prevail.”
And so say all of us.

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Jaunary 9 (cont'd from front page)

I See a Handsome Van ...
Well, anybody out there who saw the world financial crisis and plunging share values as spelling the beginning of the end for the grey nomad phenomenon had better think again.
As we enter the new year, a couple of experts ... demographer Bernard Salt and researcher Mark McCrindle of McCrindle Research ... have been gazing into their crystal balls ... and seeing lots of caravans on the road with silver-haired drivers.
“The big shift is back to the road trip,” Mark told the Brisbane Courier-Mail. “There's a perfect storm of high costs and a falling Aussie dollar reducing overseas travel and the significant drop in fuel prices.”
So, what will that mean?
“The grey nomads will continue to grow in numbers,” he said. “And people will increasingly combine cheap travel options with volunteering opportunities.”
Bernard Salt says the financial crisis will mean the toys of the super-wealthy – like the beach house, the luxury cars and the overseas holidays - will become outdated.
"In domestic travel, the road trip is back but as an Australian eco-adventure," he said. And the new simplicity will lead to further increase in the popularity of caravanning – but he says in much spruced-up from the 1980s image of caravanning holidays.
Sounds good. So how about the powers-that-be stop allowing the developers to gobble up all of our wonderful coastal caravan parks? Then we might all still have a decent choice of places to pull up for the night and have a chinwag.

January 8

Diesel in Distress
Just another quick word on fuel prices. While the ACCC says unleaded petrol prices have been pretty much been adhering to international fluctuations, there are those (and I am sure there are many grey nomads amongst them) who believe the same cannot be said for diesel.
Indeed, just before Christmas, Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce said diesel prices had not kept pace with the recent price drop for unleaded fuel.
He and Independent Senate colleague Nick Xenophon joined forces in a push to have the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) extend its monitoring role to include alternative fuels.
“Unleaded gets all the attention and the prices have come down as world oil prices have fallen,” Senator Joyce said. "Why wouldn't you scrutinise all fuel prices rather than just picking one?”
Senator Xenophon said diesel prices had only fallen at around half the rate of unleaded prices and diesel drivers were paying the price for a lack of scrutiny.
It seems like a fair point. Can anyone out there explain why there should be this discrepancy? Email us here.

January 7

Plunging Petrol Price Party
Well, after complaining long and hard about the rapid rise in petrol prices in the middle of last year, we have perhaps been a little remiss in not yet offering a little whoop of joy to mark their fall.
With many grey nomads anxiously checking their super statements at the moment, the tumbling prices at the bowser could not have been better timed. The impact of paying 10, 20 or
30 cents less per litre can scarcely be over-emphasised for long-term travellers clocking up big kilometres often on a pretty tight budget. It really does take the pressure off a bit.
Incidentally, a report released at the end of last year by the competition watchdog has seemingly put to bed once and for all the feeling that Australians were being ripped off at the bowser ... at least as far as unleaded fuel goes.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s first annual report into unleaded petrol prices suggest that, indeed, petrol pric es have closely followed international trends over the past 12 months.
Australian petrol prices were still relatively low compared to international prices, the report found, with unleaded petrol prices closely followed the price of Singapore Mogas 95, which is used as the regional benchmark for prices.
“Movements in Australian petrol prices are overwhelmingly determined by international petrol prices,'' ACCC commissioner Joe Dimasi said in a statement. “Between mid-July and mid-December retail prices had fallen by at least as much as Mogas prices had fallen.''
City and country petrol prices were also examined, with prices in country towns and the three smaller capital cities six to seven cents a litre higher than the five largest metropolitan cities.
Pricing differences were due to a combination of factors including higher transport costs, lower volumes and less competition in the smaller centres.

January 6

Shark sightings Surge
As if busy roads, crowded campsites and marauding kids weren’t enough to worry about these school holidays, it seems we now have to keep an extra close eye out for sharks as we take our ocean dips.
Since the fatal attack on 51-year-old Brian Guest at a beach south of Perth just after Christmas, there have been a string of shark sightings.
Indeed, this weekend, four beaches in Sydney's east were cleared after sharks were spotted feeding on squid, close to swimmers. Media reports say a patrolling Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter crew spotted two hammerhead sharks near Maroubra Beach, forcing an evacuation there and at neighbouring Coogee Beach. Another shark sighting forced swimmers from the water at Bronte and Tamarama beaches.
And the sharks are out in Victoria as also. A three metre bronze whaler was hooked by a recreational fisherman off Rye in Port Phillip Bay.
In Perth, daily helicopter shark patrols have now been introduced and some experts such as fisherman Al McGlashan warn the population of certain shark species, including the great white shark, is on the rise in Australian waters. One explanation could be improved water quality and more food.
Mr McGlashan told the Australian newspaper that research bodies, including the CSIRO and state fisheries departments, were hesitant about commenting on the size of the shark population and their feeding habits for fear of it leading to hysterical reporting.
Well, the cold, hard facts are these. According to the Taronga Conservation Society, there have been 60 shark attack deaths in Australian waters in the past 50 years.
That really isn’t a big number considering the millions of people who have taken to the waves in that time ... but still, it pays to keep your eyes peeled anyway!

January 5

Public Transport Bonus
It seems that grey nomads could soon be entitled to cheaper fares on public transport when travelling interstate, thanks to a $50 million Federal Government scheme.
The Age newspapwer reports that, under the deal, most states will recognise each other's concession cards to encourage older travellers to spend tourist dollars locally.
Negotiations are reportedly still being held with Western Australia and Queensland, but with those states included, about three million seniors would benefit, Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin said.
"It's been very frustrating for many senior Australians, and we want to make sure it's easier for older Australians, as they travel interstate, to be able to use their concession card," Ms Macklin told the Age.
National seniors chief executive Michael O'Neill said the scheme would make travelling costs fairer and support domestic tourism.
Until now, a NSW seniors card holder could travel from the Sydney CBD to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains and back for just $2.50, while a Victorian senior would be charged $24.40 for the same trip.
Of the $50 million provided to states over four years, Victoria will receive about $6 million and NSW $22.6 million.

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December 30

Festive Greetings
We hope you are all having a great holiday season and enjoying this country’s wonderful Christmas camping camaraderie.
Of course, the grey nomad experience becomes slightly different for a week or two as we are joined at the campfires and caravan parks by the holidaying hordes … but it is no less enjoyable (in general) because of it.
As 2008 draws to a close we would like to wish you all a and adventure-filled new year. Thanks to all of you for your support during the past year and we look forward to sharing some adventures with you in the next 12 months. 2009 is going to be fantastic year … let’s make the most of what it promises. Normal nomad service will be resumed 2 nd January.

December 23

Stormy weather
While more and more people are tempted to travel out of season in an attempt to beat the crowds, we are sometimes reminded just why there is an ‘out of season’ in the first place … the weather!
For example, those game enough to have lingered up along the Kimberley coast of Western Australia are currently being battered by tropical cyclone Billy.
At time of writing, Billy was located near Cape Leveque, between Broome and Derby, with residents and visitors warned to expect wind gusts of up to 100 kilometres an hour.
Father Bill Christie, from the Catholic mission at the beautiful grey nomad-freindly spot of Beagle Bay, about 100 kilometres north of Broome, says his community hasn't yet suffered any major damage.
"The rains were quite heavy and constant throughout the whole day,” he told the ABC. "But as this is the first real cyclone and heavy rains that we've had so far, the ground was very dry and absorbed most of it."
Tropical cyclone Billy is expected to take a more south-westerly track soon and begin moving away from the Kimberley coast.
Earlier, parts of the north and east Kimberley were flooded and the remote indigenous communities of Kalumburu and Oombulgurri were cut off by floodwaters.
While camping through a cyclone is not something to be recommended, there are certainly some out there who still dine out on the time they did precisely that. While it may be a nice story once it’s all safely behind you I don’t think there’s too many of us who would fancy being in the north-west now being lashed by gale force winds and torrential rain unsure of exactly what lies ahead. Camping in a cyclone is a bit like running with scissors. It’s all good fun until someone loses an eye!

December 18

Five's the Limit
Back in April, we reported that some residents of Bendemeer, 40 kilometres north-west of Tamworth at the junction of the New England and Oxley Highways, had appealed for free overnight parking in the village to be banned.
You may remember they told Tamworth Regional Council that they objected to having their rates used to subsidise caravan and motorhome
users who stayed for free, used the town’s water, and then left again. Yeah, right! Well, it seems that compromise is in the order of the day. The council has voted to amend an application for a 10-space primitive camping ground on the southern side of the Bendemeer rodeo grounds in favour of a five-space primitive ground with a review period for the next 12 months.
The amendment also called for consultation with van park operators to find a manner in which free campers and paid campers could be accommodated.
“The problem is it's very tough when you drive past the caravan park to go to the camp site, and the owner of the park can look at the people at the camp site,” Mayor James Treloar said.
He said talks could centre on the provision of land to give the tourist park operators the means to develop primitive camping areas.
“Maybe they can also oversee the primitive camping for a fee to make their caravan park viable.”
Hmmm!
The council received 85 submissions during the public exhibition period of the development application and a public forum held in Bendemeer earlier this month was attended by between 70 and 100 people.
The impact on the existing caravan park was described in the council notes as the most difficult of issues raised in the public debate.
Van park operator Amy Geddes endorsed this comment and said approval of a 10-spot site would “kill her business”.
The Northern Daily Leader reports her as saying the proximity of free campers (within 500 metres of the van park) would be detrimental to her business.
“I’m not complaining about free camping, I will accept the decision (of the council) but you have to realise you will kill us,” Mrs Geddes said.
However, others were more supportive of free camping.
Cr Col Murray said Bendemeer was one of the jewels in the Tamworth Regional Council crown and he believed it would be detrimental to hand out a sign to campers and grey nomads that Bendemeer wasn’t open for business.
Time will tell, Col. Time will tell.

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December 17

Been where, done what?
Okay, grey nomads. It’s time to ask the tough questions. If you were talking to a first-time visitor to Queensland, what would you say were the ‘must-do’ attractions? It’s the sort of question you need to really sit down and have a think about.
As a way of marking the Sunshine State’s 150th birthday, the RACQ has launched a 150 Must-Dos in Queensland campaign, and it’s inviting you to vote for your favourite experience.The RACQ compiled 150 experiences from more than 600 suggestions from regional tourism bodies.
High up on the list at the moment are old favourites like the dinosaur trail, Chinchilla Melon festival, Fraser Island, Moreton Island, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Stockman’s Hall of Fame.
Check out the full list and cast your vote at www.150mustdos.com.au

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December 16

Bumper to Bumper
Get ready for some more-crowded-than-normal caravan park conditions over the holidays, guys.
The plummeting value of the Aussie dollar has made many people reconsider an overseas holiday at this time … and the bleak ecomonic outlook has got them looking at the caravan and camping scene.
Added to that, Kevin Rudd’s $10.4 billion economic
stimulus package coupled with lower petrol prices has really got the caravan park industry excited about an expected bumper holiday season.
The chief executive of the Caravan RV and Accommodation Industry, Ben Yates, said recipients of the Federal Government's package should make the most of their windfall.
And RACV fuel spokesman David Cumming said cheaper petrol prices were another bonus for holiday makers in the lead-up to the Christmas holiday break.
In Melbourne, the average unleaded petrol price in December last year was $1.39 a litre ­­… this year it is $1.23.
All in all, it’s going to add up to a lot more kids’ cycles to trip over on the way to the amenities block! But remember, it’s Christmas and those laughing cheeky little tykes are the future of the grey nomad movement.
How do you cope with the Christmas crowds? Email us here.

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December 15 (cont'd from front page)

Upgrades Proceeding
A controversial overhaul of Torquay and Lorne foreshore caravan parks has been given the go-ahead, subject to environmental and planning.
The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) released a master plan for comment in January which outlined the proposed development of the parks, including upgraded roads, drainage, accommo-dation and power.
According to the Geelong Advertiser, more than 600 campers protested against the proposal last summer after it was revealed that campers who faced losing their sites would need to apply for a new holiday spot through a ballot process under the $8 million project.
GORCC chairman Peter Anderson said the committee had given in-principle approval to final plans for the improvements. He said Department of Sustainability and Environment  approvals would be needed before planning progressed any further, meaning campers would still be in the dark over the park's future this summer.
"We must ensure the park upgrades meet new State Government policy relating to Crown land caravan parks, as articulated in the new Victorian Coastal Strategy,'' he said.
Mr Anderson said the committee had hoped to provide campers with finalised details about park upgradings before summer but hoped to have all the necessary approvals by April 2009.
"We wish all campers and visitors to the coast a safe and enjoyable summer holiday,'' he said. "We hope they have a pleasant, relaxing stay and thank them for their patience while we work through this next stage.''

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December 11

Targeting Feral Camels
While spotting a feral camel may be one of those ‘Been There, Done That’ moments of your Big Lap, the impact these ships of the desert are having on the environment can no longer be ignored.
Indeed, a new report to federal and state governments recommends the consideration of a plan to cull 400,000 wild camels.
The report - Managing the impacts of feral camels in Australia: A new way of doing business – says the main options for camel control include aerial culling, ground culling, and fencing. However, possible chemical, biological, and fertility control options are also being investigated.
The study from the Desert Knowledge Co-operative Research Centre states that Australia has the largest wild camel herd on Earth, with more than a million camels ranging over a vast area of 3.3 million square kilometres.
Lead author Glenn Edwards from the Northern Territory told the ABC the camel population is doubling every nine years.
"The longer we take to act, the more it will cost to manage and repair the negative impacts of feral camels," he said.
To bring the number of camels down to 0.1-0.2 camels per square kilometre, Mr Edwards says an estimated 400,000 animals would have to be "removed".
Report co-author Murray McGregor, an agribusiness lecturer, said a good way to bring down the number of camels was to eat them.
Professor McGregor said: "Eat a camel today, I've done it. It's beautiful meat. It's a bit like beef. It's as lean as lean, it's an excellent health food."
The report is available on the web at www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au

December 10

Wet and Wetter
Mother Nature has again given travellers a sharp reminder of who is in charge.
We are lucky enough to be cruising around in one of the most travel-friendly climates in the world but we do get our fair share of wild weather, too.
North Queensland has been taking a fair old battering in recent days with heavy thunderstorms causing chaos and leading to flooding.
The storms hit hardest in Townsville and police have urged people to be wary of fallen trees and flash flooding.
"Many areas of Townsville are without power and many roads are hazardous due to traffic light outages, storm debris and localised flooding," a police spokesman said.
Other areas of northen and central Queensaldn exerinceing wild weather are Mackay, Magnetic Island, Gladstone, Emerald, Rockhampton, Clermont, Proserpine, Charters Towers and Bowen.
University of Southern Queensland climatology expert Roger Stone predicted this summer would be wetter than in the recent past.
He said La Nina - the opposite weather phenomenon to El Nino - was characterised by warmer than normal water in the Coral Sea and Gulf of Carpentaria and colder conditions in the central Pacific and equatorial regions.
It’s worth planning your Big Lap route and timing as carefully as you can with the climate very much in mind … but there’s only so much you can do. Sometimes you just have to batten down the hatches.

December 8

Outback Dangers
Another warning that we all need to take care in the Outback, even when we are in iconic locations which attract tourist by the thousands.
A few weeks after a man drowned while swimming at Edith Falls in the Northern Territory, a Victorian man is thought to have died while walking near Uluru.
Victorian Craig Moor was in his way to Alice Springs to work on a camel farm when he disappeared. His family reprted him missing on November 26 and police immediately found his Ford Falcon sedan, packed with all his personal possessions, in the car park of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park cultural centre.
An extensive two-week air and ground search across 700sq km of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has failed to find any trace of Mr Moor.
Acting Sen-Sgt Anthony Barry, of Northern Territory police, told the Herald-Sun it was "highly unlikely" that Mr Moor had survived for two weeks in the desert without supplies.
"It can only be hoped now that Mr Moor, for whatever reason, sought a lift out of the area and will contact us at some time," he said.
Sen-Sgt Barry said Mr Moor's family reported he was in good physical and mental health when he was last heard from. Police will monitor bank accounts and mobile phones for signs Mr Moor is alive.

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December 5

Australia a Top Spot
I guess it’s no surprise that the much-hyped movie epic Australia and the much-maligned but equally much-hyped ‘where the bloody hell are you’ tourism campaign have helped Australia win the title of world's top country brand for the third consecutive year.
The annual country branding index which is designed to track travel trends and pinpoint opportunities for tourism had Canada coming in second. The survey also identified various travel trends including women travelling more and without men, affluent retirees travelling with their grandchildren, and more people visiting places or species that are seen as endangered or in some form of time-related environmental risk.
Despite its high ranking the statistics show that tourism numbers to Australia dropped 4.7 percent last year.
So where are the missing tourists going? The index identified China, the United Arab Emirates and Croatia as the top three ‘rising stars’ – that is those likely to become major tourist destinations in the next five years.
Wow! I guess it’s each to his own, but I think I’ll stick to the Kimberley, the Red Centre and the rest of this magnificent country, thank you very much.
Oh, and one final statistic from the country branding index. When it came to the country where travellers would most like to live in, Australia came first followed by New Zealand, Canada, and Switzerland.
No surprise there. I think we all realise we are all blessed to live in the Lucky Country, and doubly blessed to be able to travel it from sea to sparkling sea.

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December 4

Cane Toads keep Hitching
While travellers like the grey nomads are constantly being told to do their bit to help stop the spread of the dreaded can toad, it really does occasionally seem like a hopeless task.
While the pest is sometimes reported as hitching a ride on a 4WD or a caravan for thousands of kilometres, even the experts are surprised by just how resilient they can be.
The latest example is that of a cane toad that hitched a ride in a man’s golf shoe on a flight from Brisbane to Perth, surviving for six days before it was discovered on an Albany golf course.
“Talk about tough resilient buggers, they are to survive all that flying and no food for six days,” Allan English told the ABC. “I was too much of a wimp to kill it but my mate Noogs nailed it with his golf shoe.”
Sandy Boulter from the Perth branch of toad-eradication organisation Kimberley Toad Busters (KBT), says the incident highlights the need for people to be vigilant about cane toads coming into Western Australia.
“Hitch-hiking is common and one wonders whether some hitch-hikers have made the trip and never been discovered, and one can only hope that an egg-hatching pair don't hike, because that would be a disaster,” she said.
She told the ABC that people in Western Australia, particularly tourists and people in the transport industry, need to be educated about the dangers of hitch-hiking cane toads.
She says the fact the cane toad survived in Mr English's shoe for six days shows how tough the pests are.
“I do remember photographs of a toad that one of our toad busters took that had been in a fire,” she said. “It had the whole of its body burnt, the right-hand side of its face, the jaw had gone, it had no eye and no face, but it was still hopping around ... they are remarkably resilient.”
Western Australia's Environment Department says while they have not had a report of the golf shoe incident, it is an important reminder to people to report any cane toad sightings in the state.
Let’s make sure we all do our bit.

December 3

Year of the Grey Nomad?
Well, our caravanning counterparts in the UK seem to be riding the crest of a wave at the moment.
Not only are they able to watch the Caravan Channel, TV's only permanently produced camping, caravanning and motorhome programme, but they have now officially declared 2009 as the ‘Year of the Camper, Caravanner, and Motorhome Owner’. Wow!
It seems that in these financially tight times, the Brits are looking for travel opportunities that won't put too much strain on their budgets (aren’t we all?) and cometh the hour, cometh the caravan!
"Campers, caravan owners and motorhome fans are the only people who can rely on having great holidays at really keen prices," said Caravan Channel producer and presenter Chris Gosling.
And, he says, there's the green cost to consider, too. He reckons that even Brits who take a fairly big trip to Europe with the caravan will produce a lot less carbon than they would taking a holiday flight to Spain’s Costa Del Sol.
So, if 2009 is the Year of the Caravan in the UK, could we make it the ‘Year of the Grey Nomad’ over here? I reckon it’s got a bit of a ring to it.

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December 2

Heavy Rain Causes Havoc
Torrential rain and flooding has certainly been causing mayhem over the past week or two.
In New South Wales, Gunnedah Shire and Tamworth have been declared natural disaster zones as clean-up operations continue following weekend floods.
Heavy rain also caused flooding in other parts of northern NSW, damaging infrastructure, homes and rural properties. Gunnedah Shire mayor Adam Marshall said some farmers had lost all their crops following 10 years of drought. A storm that dumped more than 100mm of rain in 50 minutes had caused enormous damage across the shire, he said.
And Tamworth mayor James Treloar said more than 160mm of rain fell in 24 hours and parts of Tamworth received an enormous amount of localised flooding.
The cost to repair the damage from the floods and storms in Tamworth is expected to be more than $7.5 million. And, of course, it all meant trouble fo travellers with both the New England Highway and Oxley Highway closed for a while as a result.
And a further reminder of the dangers of rising waters for travellers came near Alice Spreings late last month. Two Dutch tourists had to be rescued after they got bogged on Larapinta Drive outside the town. Sensibly, they stayed in their car while the region was hit with a deluge of rain and then set off a rescue beacon.The Australian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre picked up the signal and a helicopter rescued the couple and flew them to Kings Canyon Resort.
Couple of good lessons to be learned there. Watch out for floodwaters, and carry an emergency beacon of you are heading out alone on Outback roads.

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December 1

Big Lap free-for-all
Well, with superannuation values plunging, property prices ‘teetering’ and complete economic disaster apparently just around the corner, maybe it’s a good time to have a look at where we can trim our on-the-road budgets.
Indeed, given the seriousness of the situation, could it be that simply travelling slower, fishing more and drinking less is not going to be enough? Are more radical solutions required? Hmmm! Perhaps we should draw inspiration from the social activists who once again took part in ‘Buy Nothing Day’ on Saturday in a protest against rampant consumerism.
But while it's one thing easing your conscience - and your wallet - with one day of anti-capitalist abstention, it's quite another to go without spending any money for a whole year.
And that's exactly what UK-based Mark Boyle is planning to do. He aims to be the ultimate ‘freeconomist’, living entirely off the land and the waste products of society. The caravan dwelling-activist is going to use a wood-burner made from an old gas bottle and a few bicycle parts for heat, and also for cooking his foraged or skip-salvaged meals.
Lighting will be provided by his own home-made beeswax candles and a solar panel on the caravan's roof.
Boyle says he will be completely off-grid, using ‘transitional tools’ such as the laptop and phone only in as much as the sun can power them.
So, could this be the way forward for us all? Any volunteers for a “freenomadist” adventure experiment? Or, failing that, has anyone got any great tips for keeping the Big Lap affordable? Email us here.

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