The Nomad … news, views, comment, opinion

November 28

Sign of the times
The increasing numbers of surveillance cameras springing up in caravan parks across the country is yet another sign of Australia’s loss of innocence.
The latest to park to join the hi-tech anti-crime fight is the Southcombe by the Sea Caravan Park in Port Fairy, Victoria.
The Warrnambool Standard reports that long-held concerns about criminal damage and petty theft have prompted Moyne Shire to spend $8000 on four surveillance cameras. The council hopes the investment will pay for itself by putting an end to vandalism and make guests feel more secure in the family camping ground.
But chief executive officer Brett Stonestreet was also anxious to reassure campers that the closed-circuit television system would not create a Big Brother atmosphere in the park.
"It's not for tracking people's movements," Mr Stonestreet said. "If there's evidence of crime, theft or vandalism, the tapes can be retained and evidence presented that those persons are doing something suspicious." The paper reports that cameras will be mounted on the roof of each of the two amenity blocks while another will keep watch from the roof of the office block near the main gate and a further camera will be installed inside the office.
Mr Stonestreet said signs notifying guests of the cameras would be erected at the park.
Victorian Caravan Parks Association acting executive officer Phil Redmond said surveillance cameras were now widespread at caravan parks.
"A common occurrence at coastal caravan parks is groups of youths coming through at four o'clock in the morning and nicking off with someone's esky left outside their tent," he said. "It's just a bit of a sign of the times and the hours youths keep these days.”
Sad, isn’t it?
What do you think about the trend towards erecting surveillance cameras at theft-prone parks? Does it make you feel more secure? Have you tightened up your security arrangements recently or do you still leave the fishing rod under the awning while you take a two-hour bushwalk? Email us here.

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November 27

Gumboot saga
We’re not normally in the business of promoting particular TV programs but for any of you who have ever visited Tully in Far North Queensland, there’s an absolute corker on tonight.
Big Dreamers by Aussie filmmakers, Camille Hardman and John Fink, is a story about one man's struggle to build the World's Biggest Gumboot.
After Brazil dumped its sugaron the global market a few years ago, sugar-dependent Tully suffered badly and desperately needed a morale-boosting new claim to fame. As many of you will know,Tully (just down the road from grey nomad hotspot Mission Beach) has long battled its northern neighbour Babinda for the right to call itself the wettest place in Australia. So, that’s why Ron Hunt, a lifelong Rotary International Club member and retired politician came up with the idea of building a giant gumboot in honour of Tully's record rainfall of  7.98m metres in 1950.
The erection of the 7.9-metre gumboot in 2003 made international headlines.
Big Dreamers tells the real story behind the quirky tourist attraction in hilarious fashion. The filmamkers spent nine months living in Tully as they followed the gumboot saga, observing cost blowouts, personality clashes and even an unfortunate paint incident that turned the golden gumboot brown.
Ron Hunt, a lifetime Tully resident and one of the stars of the film, said the town originally intended to build a smaller gumboot to mark its claim as the country's rain capital. But when Babinda overtook Tully as the soggiest settlement, the gloves really came off.
“We then built it to commemorate the highest annual rainfall in town as recorded in 1950, and they (Babinda) couldn't beat that and that really ticked them off," Mr Hunt said.
Babinda even threatened to build a giant umbrella to steal Tully's thunder but the project never eventuated.
Big Dreamers is on ABC at 9.30pm tonight. Don’t miss it.
Oh and as for who will win this year's wettest town competition, the Bureau of Meteorology said rainfall recorded to the end of last month showed Babinda had a 173mm lead over Tully.

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November 26

Edith Falls tragedy
A man has died after getting into difficulties while swimming in Edith Falls in the Northern Territory’s Nitmiluk National Park.
It’s a stark reminder to us all of the dangers that exist. Tragedies can, and do, happen even at iconic and well-visited locations like Edith Falls.
While the man who died was not a grey nomad … indeed he was a US serviceman in his early 20s who was stationed near Katherine … the lessons are the same.
He was part of a group of visiting Americans and had swum about 150 metres from the plunge pool entrance to the other side of the falls when he started to struggle.
Eyewitnesses told the Northern Territory News that said the man’s friends and others commandeered a ranger's boat to search for him, but he was not found until about 15 minutes after he went under.
"We were doing everything to find him," said former tour guide Nerida Atkins. "The visibility was awful - you could see only half a metre. I'm surprised they found him at all."
NRETAS Director of Parks Graham Phelps said Parks and Wildlife rangers attempted to revive the man until the ambulance arrived.
Mr Phelps said visitor safety was the rangers' number one priority.
"We have numerous safety signs in place and lifebuoys on hand in case of emergencies," he said. "We strongly urge all visitors to adhere to park safety signs and particularly to observe warning signs regarding swimming."
Mr Phelps reminded visitors they need to be aware that parks had ‘natural changing environments’.
"(They) need to be aware of the risks and exercise care, taking into account their own physical abilities and health when entering these environments," he said.
It’s commonsense advice. All swimming places have their own peculiar characteristics. For example, the icy waters of Ellery Creek Big Hole in the West MacDonnell Ranges can catch the unwary by surprise .. sometimes with devastating consequences. And then there are the currents and tides of the rivers and oceans. It is paradise out there but it’s still a wild and unpredicable country.

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November 25

Caravan park heaven
Hervey Bay in Queensland has long been dubbed the "Caravan Capital of Australia" … but does it have any rivals for the crown?
It originally earned the title back in the 1980s when 30 or so caravan parks sprung up along the elongated foreshore to accommodate the growing flood of tourists. Back then, Hervey Bay was considered something of a sleepyfishing village with a population of 10,000 or so.
As most of you know, it still offers ample holiday park facilities that are right beside the beach but it’s a very different place than it was back then. It was officially proclaimed a city in 1984 and is now a thriving city with a permanent population of more than 50,000.
A recent story in The Age newspaper said many long-termers considered the character of the area had been sacrificed by the construction of modern project homes for people eager to retire to the sun.
The paper says this problem is compounded by the fact that much of the beach foreshore is still taken up with caravan parks, “creating a very one dimensional feel about the place - shops on one side of the Esplanade, then caravan parks, then a narrow hard sand beach.”
Is this one-dimensional tag fair? Obviously, with a great climate, good fshing, a flat and accessible bay, and excellent whale watching, Hervey Bay was always going to be a magnet for grey nomads and others … but does it still deserve its ‘Caravan Capital’ tag, and who are its closest rivals? Over to you.

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November 24

When the time is ripe
The recent wild storms that have beset southeast Queensland caused us to highlight in last week’s ‘Nomad’ the importance of good weather on any grey nomad adventure.
We neglected, of course, to mention how this can affect fruit-picking season and the movements of those travellers who rely on the income it provides.
For example, hundreds of fruit pickers have reportedly poured into the small new South Wales town of Young only to find the cherry crop isn't ready yet.
According to a report in the Canberra Times, the Workforce Ready agency is juggling job-seekers between the north side of Young which is two weeks ahead of the south side's season. One grower, Barisha Batinich, said she was currently turning away five to 10 people a day.
The agency has placed 200 pickers so far and expects to place 1000 during season. Young's population of 12,000 will swell by another 3000 at the peak of harvest.
Workforce Ready said growers had showers and toilets to accommodate temporary pickers and preferred them on the orchards and ready to start picking as soon as conditions allowed.
The Canberra Times said first-timers were advised to expect a slow start of four lugs (a large bucket and strap holding 15kg of fruit ) a day. They were paid about $10 a lug and the aim was to get 10 a day. In ideal conditions gun pickers achieved 40 lugs a day.
Cherry Growers Australia national president Ian Hay said because of the drought this year's cop was 40 per cent of what Young could produce in a good season, and 50 per cent up on last year's yields.

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November 23

Weather rules, OK?
Well, Mother Nature has certainly been letting us grey nomads know who is boss again, hasn’t she?
Yesterday, Southeast Queensland's third destructive storm in just five days caused more flash flooding. Indeed, the huge belt of torrential rain, hail and lightning sparked mayhem across the region:
While storms, of course, cause commuters and residents a major headache … for example, the latest stormleft 42,000 homes without power, as well as provoking chaos on the road and rail system ... grey nomads are in many ways even more dependent on the mood of the weather. And we're not simply affectd by dramatic events like the widespread flooding that caused yesterday’s evacuation of a camping ground in Brisbane’s Ashgrove district.
No. Our plans can be knocked for six by something as simple as constant light rain, or it being far too hot, or far too cold … and every time we suffer the vagaries of the Aussie climate we should remind oursleves of one thing … WE’RE SPOILT! It should remind us of what our overseas counterparts have to put up with, and cause us to count our lucky stars that we’re here in Australia. Sometimes, perhaps, we need to suffer a little bit to remind ourselves not to take our good fortune for granted.
We all know fellow travellers who have managed to circumnavigate Australia for months if not years without seeing a single drop of rain. And they do it because they can.
So, while Queensland may have had storms yeterday and it might even have them again today … we know that sunshine is always just around the corner. And that’s what makes life so good.

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November 20

Festive fun and games
I hope all of you currently out there on the road have got your Christmas plans all sorted out.
Following on from yesterday’s ‘Nomad’ about the growing popularity of caravanning holidays among ‘normal (ie non-grey-nomad Australians), it all means of course that sites are going to be in hotter demand than ever over the coming festive period.
Naturally, it’s always busy at that time of the year and kids’ bikes and a queue for the washing machine are par for the course at van parks … but this one could be even more crowded.
Discovery Holiday Parks Chief Executive Tim Dodds told the Gold Coast News that families who don’t want to sacrifice their holidays are going to choose to stay closer to home.
"The Australian Bureau of Statistics has found that the cost of living for an average household increased by 5.7 per cent in the last financial year and this is having an impact on non-essential spending such as holidays," he said. "With value for money becoming even more paramount, self-contained holidays are the emerging winners where people can cook for themselves and use the resort-style facilities at the holiday park without the resort costs."
Tim Eddy, manager of the Broadwater Tourist Park at Southport, told the paper that his park would be 'chockers' over Christmas.
"I've been in this industry for more than 15 years and (caravan park bookings) generally lift during times of economic woe," he said. "People can't afford to travel overseas and caravan parks are more of a budget option. People who normally stay in resorts and hotels are probably staying in a cabin and those who stay in cabins are opting for a caravan."
Mr Eddy said his park took Christmas bookings from December 1 and any leftover sites were expected to 'go like hot cakes'.
"As soon as we open it up those bookings will go bang, bang, bang, we'll be full over Christmas," he said.
Gulp! I’m sure it’s also going to be busier than ever at free camps and national park campsites so this year, more than ever, get yourself a good spot nice and early and don’t shift until 2009.

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November 19

More evidence is emerging that the caravan holiday is becoming ever more popular as a result, in part, of global financial uncertainty.
A Melbourne Age/Nielsen survey reveals that a third of Australians are planning to spend less money this year than last on holidays and leisure over Christmas. With the uncertainty wrought by a global financial crisis, a falling Australian dollar and petrol prices tumbling, overseas jaunts are being scrapped in favour of the old-fashioned road trip.
The Age/Nielsen poll shows 33% of Australians will spend less on holidays and leisure over Christmas this year because of the global financial crisis. While 49% will spend the same amount, just 17% will spend more.
"Certainly in the past couple of months we are seeing more people getting behind the wheel," Caravan Industry Australia's executive officer, Peter Wright, told The Age newspaper. "The feedback from our caravan parks is that their bookings for the Christmas holiday period have been extremely strong, even at this early stage."
And the difference is being felt on the ground. Katrina Trounce is a long-time grey nomad who has already staked out her spot for Christmas at Indented Head on the Bellarine Peninsula.
She told The Age she is noticing big changes after more than a decade of the caravanning life.
“We've certainly noticed a difference at the park," she said. "Where once it was easy to get a site, now it can be pretty difficult. It can get really crowded.”
I hope the powers that be … who seem content to let more and more caravan parks be swallowed up by developers … are listening!

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November 18

Killer croc identified
DNA tests have confirmed human remains found in a 14-foot crocodile captured in North Queensland are that of grey nomad Arthur Booker. The 62-year-old Vietnam vetran , who was on a big camping trip with his wife Doris, went missing after going to check his crab pots at the Endeavour River in Cooktown on September 30. A three-day search uncovered only his wristwatch and one of his sandals. Rangers later caught three large crocodiles in the river, and conducted x-rays and an endoscopy on one, a 14ft (4.5m) bull croc. Human remains and a wedding ring were found inside the reptile.
The investigation into Mr Booker’s death has now been referred to the coroner.
The crocodile which took Mr Booker, was classified as ‘iconic’ by local authorities because of its age and size, and therefore cannot be harmed or killed. It is currently being looked after by members of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in at a secure facility in Townsville, north Queensland.
It will not be released to the wild, but is expected to be offered to a crocodile farm or zoo on the strict condition that it must never go on public display.
It was claimed last week that the EPA’s crocodile relocation scheme – where rangers catch problem crocodiles and move them to a different location, usually out of harm’s way for humans - led to Mr Booker’s death and that of Barry Jeffries three years ago. Mr Jeffries was killed by a crocodile in the Lakefield National Park in 2005. An informant claimed the suspected crocodile which killed him had been caught and relocated by the EPA.
The EPA has denied the claims that their wildlife program is at fault for the deaths of the two men, and the case has been referred to the Crime and Misconduct Commission. The Agency has also been ordered to review all aspects of crocodile relocation.
Mr Booker’s death is the first fatal crocodile attack in Australia since 2006, when an eight-year-old girl was taken in the Blythe River, in the Northern Territory.
Between 1985 and 2007, there were 17 attacks by crocodiles in Australia, five of which were fatal.

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November 17

Think inside the square
Grey nomads … your country needs you. Or, at least, a Queensland geographical survey does.
As a way of marking the state's 150th birthday, the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland (RGSQ) is creating a detailed geographical record of the entire state. The Queensland By Degrees project needs people to visit and record details about the 184 geographical points where lines of longitude and latitude intersect.
Each intersection point is at the centre of a square 110km across and covering 12,100sq km. Some squares are virtually flat and covered throughout with the same vegetation. Others, covering a region from Kuranda near Cairns to Chillagoe, span areas changing from wet tropical rainforest to dry savannah. Each point and square will be recorded not only for its interesting geographical and natural features, but by its architecture, history and other impacts on the landscape.
Co-ordinator Ken Granger that travellers had responded enthusiastically since the project was launched earlier this year, and that most of the intersection points on the coast and most of the state border points had now been visited. However, he told the Brisbane Courier-Mail that as well as a few gaps along the coast there were still many gaps in inland Queensland. If you want to join in, check out www.rgsq.org.au or ring (07) 3368 2066 to see what areas have yet to be claimed. The RGSQ eventually hopes to produce a DVD or publication which summarises the multitude of interesting facets across the area.

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November 14

Yes, We Can
It seems that up and down the country, profit-hungry property groups are gobbling up scenic camping spots at a rate of knots … often at a terrible cost to the community at large. But the fight against the would-be developers of caravan parks is back on!
Earlier this week we reported that developers had applied for a planning permit to subdivide the Rondor Caravan Park at Barwon Heads in Victoria into 45 housingblocks. While the news is bleak in that part of the world, elsewhere there are little rays of sunshine. While we may be down, we are certainly not out! Hats off then to the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, which has just announced its readiness to defend in the courts its decision to refuse a development at Peregian Beach Caravan Park. In August, our heroes (Sunshine Coast Regional Council ) refused an application by the Scanlon Property Group (Boo! Hiss!) to build 132 new units, 30 self-contained units, shops, restaurants and offices at the caravan park . The council said the plan was not compatible with the surroundings, had the potential to cause significant detriment to the Noosa National Park and was excessive in terms of its density, height and building bulk.
Hear, hear! The decision sparked jubilation among Peregian Beach community groups … but then Scanlon (Boo, Hiss!) decided to appeal. However, the fact that the council is still refusing to budge and will defend its actions in court is in itself grounds for optimism. It shows that the endless development of scenic caravan parks is not inevitable. Indeed, earlier this year, the Queensland Government announced that three Sunshine Coast caravan parks … Tripcony, Noosa and Cotton Tree … had been nominated for heritage listing, thereby removing the threat of development.
And, in April this year, the Golden Beach Holiday Park - again in the Sunshine Coast – which had been due to be sold for development was withdrawn from the market when the owners changed their minds.
It should give us all hope … and remind us that together we can make a difference.
As Winston Churchill might have said, had he been a grey nomad. “We shall fight them on the beaches, we shall fight them on the riverbanks, we shall fight them at scenic locations across this beautiful land, and we shall never, never surrender (our caravan parks).”
Okay would-be developers, you are on notice. Enough is enough. We’re standing shoulder to shoulder with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council on this one. Can we save our beautiful caravan parks and help protect the grey nomad way of life? Yes, we can.

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November 13

Too hot to handle!
The dangers of travelling in genuinely remote Outback areas was dramatically highlighted by the death of a grey nomad in the Kimberley last month. You may remember the keen birdwathcher had written “help” in the sand near a makeshift shelter where is body was found, and an empty drink bottle was discovered nearby.
The greater numbers of travellers on the road has also helped draw more attention to the risks posed by Outback trips. Perhaps that explains why t he South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) has announced that the Simpson Desert will be closed during the hottest months of the year.
The closure, to apply from December 1 to March 15 each year, will affect the Simpson Desert Conservation Park and Regional Reserve in South Australia.
The closure was proposed after a risk assessment identified that extreme temperatures constituted a high safety risk to people attempting to cross the Simpson Desert during this period.
Trevor Naismith, Director of Regional Operations for DEH, said it was unfortunate the area needed to be closed during summer, but that it was necessary to prevent fatalities from occurring.
“Temperatures in the Simpson Desert during summer are extreme, with daytime temperatures of between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius common,” he says. “During this period, dunes are soft and constantly changing shape, increasing the chance of vehicles becoming bogged and people becoming stranded … high temperatures also lead to an increased chance of vehicle failure.”
He said the park closure would not have a significant impact on local businesses, because only about 35 vehicles traverse the Simpson Desert each year during summer.
“At a time when there are very few vehicles in the desert to provide assistance in a timely manner, this is potentially a fatal situation, especially for the inexperienced, ill-prepared visitor,” he says. “This high risk also extends to emergency personnel who are called out to help stranded visitors during this period.”
Witjira National Park and the campground at the famed Dalhousie Springs to the west of the Simpson Desert will not be affected by the closure.
It is understood that the Northern Territory and Queensland are considering taking a similar measure where the Simpson Desert crosses into their domain.
What do you think of the seasonal closure? Email editorial@thegreynomads.com.au to share your thoughts.

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November 12

Another one bites the dust
Developers have applied for a planning permit to subdivide the Rondor Caravan Park at Barwon Heads in Victoria into 45 housing blocks.
It comes as no surprise as Sydney-based Hampton Developments advised residents and holidaymakers a year ago what they had in mind … but it’s still a crushing blow to many people. According to the Geelong Advertiser, almost 50 objections have been lodged to the plan, mainly on the grounds of loss of native vegetation and other environmental issues. However, there is obviously a huge cost too to those people who call the park home, and those who visit it regularly.
Now and then, protesters manage to hold up or defeat the plans of would-be caravan park developers but it’s an uphill struggle. Part of all of our heritage is under threat … and once a van park has been built over there’s no going back.
The Rondor application is expected to go before a council planning panel in the coming months. However, Hampton Developments has already been advertising its ‘Rivers Edge development’ … at least it was until it was revealed that it hadn’t at that stage even applied for a planning permit, and they had to take the offending website down after. Maybe they know something we don’t!
‘Save Rondor Family Park’ committee spokesman Mark Curtis said the application posed a number of a environmental concerns.
"One of the biggest aspects is that the lots at the front of the park are subject to flooding and the cost of that could ultimately fall back on the ratepayer," he told the Geelong Advertiser. "The amount of vegetation they want to remove is significant and would have an enormous impact on the riverfront. Just about all the trees would be removed to make way for driveways."
Watch this space for more news … but I suspect another one could be about to bite the dust!
Visit http://www.my-drewbarrymore.net/saverondorpark/ and www.saverondor.com to get a clearer idea of the real human cost of just one of the proposed park re-developments.

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November 11

Troubled times?
Could the dream be over? According to Australian travel website, Travel Trends, the numbers of grey nomads on the road is about to plummet ... due to the world’s financial woes and presumably our sinking superannuation values.
Conversely, however, the site says the plunging value of the Aussie dollar means that more people will holiday at home rather than travelling overseas.
“Driving and camping holidays are in for popularity surge,” itsays. “Once daggy destinations will come back into vogue … things like ‘caravanning’ at Dromana on Port Phillip Bay, feeding the pelicans at The Entrance on the Central Coast near Sydney.”
Charming.
And Travel Trends predicts the number of people travelling to Australia from overseas will also drop despite the new Baz Luhrmann ad campaign aimed at time-poor cashed-up city dwellers.
“Pretty soon these people will have plenty of time but no job or money,” the site says. “Oh, the irony - they’ll be even more stressed but won’t be able to do anything about it.”
It says isolated, high-priced domestic destinations geared to tourism machinations of times gone by, such as Far North Queensland and the Northern Territory, will continue to suffer.
“The Grey Nomads traversing the nation’s highways will stay home and bowling clubs, once bereft of members, will experience a membership resurgence,” it claims. “This will create tensions with younger, groovy members just there for the cheap drink prices.”
Crikey! This is getting worrying.
Travel Trends continues with its doom and gloom theme.
“Fish, chips, soft drinks and Vegemite sandwiches will be the holiday meals of choice, supplanting Focaccia and café latte.”
Hang on a minute! That sounds all right. In fact, it sounds pretty darned good.
And what’s this? Travel Trends sees blue skies on the horizon.
“The whole mess will be much shorter than many are predicting,” it says. “Look out for a strong recovery in 2010.”
Holy smokes! 2010 … That’s only a year away. A lot of grey nomads starting the Big Lap now won’t even have got out of their home state by then!
Crisis … what crisis? See you out there.

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November 10

Iconic park boost
Another popular caravan park - this time in New South Wales - has been earmarked for a redevelopment.
Harrington Beach Holiday Park, which adjoins both the road to Crowdy Head and the popular Harrington lagoon and breakwater, is now poised to become an iconic feature of the area.
"We want to turn this park into a modern holiday park that takes advantage of the renewal and revitalisation of Harrington", the park's lessee, Merv King, told the Manning River Times.
Lands minister Tony Kelly told the paper the $6 million-$8 million redevelopment proposal was an exciting one which, if successful, would deliver a better park, drawing more visitors and boosting the local economy.
"The submission put to Lands proposes a complete redevelopment of the seven hectare park to take advantage of its location on the riverfront," he said. "This includes the upgrading and redevelopment of several precincts within the park for recreation, tourism and accommodation and the overall improvement of the management of the park.
He said caravan parks on Crown land are an important part of the tourism sector and the Harrington Beach Holiday Park has the potential to offer not only an opportunity for a tourism boost to the area, but the flow-on effects that come with that.
"I am committed to ensuring that valuable sites like the Harrington Beach Holiday Park remain available and that the redevelopment options are supported and embraced by Lands,” he said. "The Rees Government is committed to maximising local benefits from important community assets though positive land management actions such as the improvement options for this caravan and holiday park."

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November 7

MP bags Grey Nomads
I don’t know about you but I sometimes get a bit fed up of grey nomads being collectively blamed for every traffic snarl-up that’s ever occurred.
Of course, newspaper columnists desperate for a crowd-pleasing way of filling column inches have long considered ‘slowcoach’ grey nomads an easy target for a vitriolic attack. You can only shrug your shoulders and get on with it. But it’s getting a bit much when politicians use Federal Parliament to spout the same rubbish. Speaking at a recent debate on amendment to a roads bill, the Nationals MP for Parkes, Mark Coulton, accused the Rudd Government of focussing too much on major highways at the expense of local routes. Fair enough, Mark. You might even be right.
He said the Government’s $70 million heavy vehicle package was weighted towards AusLink projects despite the fact many smaller operators use secondary roads. Yup, okay. And he wants more funding diverted to regional areas to ensure the roads are maintained and that there are enough rest areas for drivers. Mark. That sounds about spot on. Good on you.
But no. Mark couldn’t leave it there. Not when he could take a swipe at those awful older Australians enjoying a tour around the country, pumping millions of dollars into struggling rural communities as they do so.
“One of the issues that the transport operators confront in the regions, particularly in my area, is the problem of mixing tourists - especially the so-called grey nomads - up with heavy transport,” he told parliament. “I spend a lot of time on the road in my electorate, Deputy Speaker Scott, as would you, and the situation that causes the most discomfort is a campervan travelling at 80 kilometres an hour - you will see it with half-a-dozen B-double transports that can comfortably sit on a 100.”
Gosh, we’re evil aren’t we? Fancy being on the same road at the same time as a far more important vehicles!
Mark ‘I love truckies’ Coulton continues. “When you get these bottlenecks that is when frustration seeps in and people make foolhardy decisions,” he said.
Right. So, reading between the lines. Somebody does something stupid on the road and it’s not the person who made the stupid decision’s fault, it’s the cursed grey nomad driving legally and sensibly who is to blame!
It’s logical really, isn’t it? After all, why stigmatise drunk drivers, drug-taking drivers, tailgating truckies or speeding hoons when you can dump on one of the most law respecting groups in the country?
To be fair, Mark ‘Let’s-blame-the-grey-nomads’ Coulton goes on to say that funding alternative routes is part of the remedy.
“When there is an alternative sealed route through probably smaller, picturesque towns it will encourage those nomads off the highway and separate them out from the trucks,” he enthuses.
Yup, and after that we can all put paper bags on our heads and then perhaps Mark Coulton can pretend we don’t exist at all.
Do you think you and your caravan/motorhome/campertrailer pose an unacceptable inconvenience to other more important road users? Would you like to see yourself banned from the highways and byways? If so, email us here and we will send you a free paper bag (eye slits not included) to put over your head. Alternatively, click here - http://www.markcoulton.com.au/bwWebsite/Contact.aspx - to send a special message to Mr Mark Coulton, MP.

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November 6

A Spirit Leveller
It’s often said that the road is a great leveller, and the mix of people you meet at caravan parks and campsites around the country is proof enough of that.
The grey nomad lifestyle seduces people from all economic backgrounds and from all parts of Australia. There are the battlers and the wealthy, the battered buses and the sleek new motorhomes.
Take Michael Buoy as an example. He is a millionaire who could live at a mansion in any number of fashionable coastal locations. Instead he spends his time at the Casino Village RV resort in the North Rivers area of New South Wales , ready to hit the road in his motorhome whenever the mood takes hm.
Mr Buoy, who made his millions deep sea diving while living on oil rigs across the world, is part of a growing number of people who choose to sell their brick homes in favour of an RV and a prefabricated fibro house at a caravan park.
The Casino Village RV resort came into existence in June, 2003, on the site of a 115-hectare former airport on the outskirts of Casino.
According to resident Joe Schlitter, owning a plot in the village will buy grey nomads a secure base and the freedom to keep exploring in their RVs. But just as importantly, it buys a sense of community, which Mr Schlitter believes has been lost in many suburban streets.
“I carry a notepad around this place to jot down the names of people I meet,” he told the Northern Star newspaper. “Everyone is just so friendly. We really only knew one neighbour in Sydney. Here we know too many people.”
Mr Schlitter's partner of 14 years, Elizabeth Griffin, called the caravan park 'one big happy family'.
Their home is a corner block that looks on to what will soon be the village's golf course.
Nothing seems to be too much trouble for neighbours in this park. Take Elizabeth Price, who spent time recently taking photographs of her neighbour's kangaroo paw flowers in full bloom.
“My neighbours won't be back until December, so I'm going to send them these pictures to show them how well the garden is looking,” Ms Price said.
Mr Buoy said the best thing about a village like this was that everyone was equal.
“Once you retire it doesn't seem to matter who you were or what you did. Everyone is on the same level,” he said.

November 5

Not the Last Resort
On the day Barack Obama looks set to win the US presidential election, change, it seems, is very much in the air. That’s certainly the case on Western Australia’s beautiful Coral Coast.
According to a report in Perth Now, the coastline between Perth and Geraldton - home to budget caravan, camping and house-hire holidays – is set for a five-star facelift with small fishing communities about to become hosts to luxury resorts. Indeed, one has already started in Cervantes, and there are plans for a complex in Leeman and a 78 beach-cabin development at the marina in Jurien Bay. Other communities, such as Port Denison, Green Head and Greenough, are all earmarked for future development.
Perth Now quotes David O'Malley, the Chief Executive of the regional tourism organisation, Australia's Coral Coast, as saying development in the area is long overdue.
“For a long time there's been an under-supply of good quality accommodation ... there just simply isn't enough along the coast,” he said. “There are still those who want the older-style budget holidays, but more and more people want to pay a few more dollars and prefer a better standard of accommodation.''
He said holidaymakers were looking at alternatives to areas such as Margaret River and it was hoped Indian Ocean Drive, linking Lancelin to Cervantes, would be completed by 2011.
"You will get developments in lesser-known places because the drive will be easier and because the hot spots are too busy,” he said. “I think we will see many changes in the next 10 years but it will be in a controlled, environmentally friendly way.''
The $12 million, 26-apartment Cervantes Edge Resort is expected to open in 10 months, and over in Leeman, developer Barry Humfrey is planning a $70 million, 200-apartment complex.
According to Perth Now, he has bought the existing Leeman caravan park site and is waiting for native title approval on an adjoining piece of land where a new caravan park will be built.
He hopes to start work on the new development in 12-18 months.
“The whole of this part of the coast is terribly underdone,” Mr Humfrey said. “People want to come here but there's nowhere for them to stay.''
Nothing, it seems, stays the same forever ... although sometimes we may wish it would.

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November 4

Our New Neighbour
Keep an eye out for Neighbours character Harold Bishop in the campsites and caravan parks, won’t you?
Actor Ian Smith, who first played the character 22 years ago, is apparently leaving Ramsay St to join the ranks of the grey nomads. He has now filmed his last scene ... coincidentally of him driving off in a motorhome ... and it will be aired next February.
Smith, 69, a veteran of television and theatre, will spend his new-found free time travelling throughout Australia with Gail, his wife of 39 years.
He told the Melbourne Herald Sun he was sad to be leaving, but was ready to move into a next phase of his life.
"I want to fly off the twig. I don't want to fall off it,” he said. “I really am ready for it."
Smith joined Neighbours in 1987 as kindly coffee shop owner Harold Bishop, then left in 1991 to pursue theatre and other opportunities, and returned in 1996. But he doubts he’ll come back again.
"I've learnt never to say never,” he said. “And with the way my superannuation has gone over the last few months, it's not looking flash ... but no."
We know exactly how you feel, Ian. Who is the most famous person you have come across at a campsite? Email us here.

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October 31

Free at Last!
There’s been another encouraging victory for the free camping campaigners near Warrnambool in Victoria. Moyne Shire has voted to allow grey nomads and other travellers to sleep at Panmure's roadside reserve, despite ‘camping’ being illegal.
The Warrnambool Standard reports that a sign prohibiting camping will be removed from a popular and other travellers to sleep at Panmure's roadside reserve, despite ‘camping’ being illegal.
The Warrnambool Standard reports that a sign prohibiting camping will be removed from a popular waterhole in what is described as a “bizarre move”. The popular rest area was one of many across the south-west which came under fire in March for allowing tourists to avoid site fees at established camping grounds. The shire erected the sign after the Warrnambool Tourism Association (WTA) called for a crackdown on freeloading campers using scenic car parks for overnight stays.
However, it seems it has now been recognised that visitors to Panmure inject much-needed revenue into local businesses. And the council has just decided to remove the signs following a lively debate on what actually constituted camping.
Motorhome-loving mayor Ken Gale said that, as long as travellers slept in their vehicles, and did not "put their stabilisers down", they were not deemed to be camping. But, he reckoned, that pitching a tent or laying a mattress on the grass was camping.
And, according to the Warrnambool Standard, Cr Stan Cook, who moved the motion to remove the sign, said the Panmure reserve was not an area where people stayed for nights on end, but rather one that gave tired drivers a safe place to sleep.
Only Cr Gerald Madden (boo!) and Cr Brenda Hampson (hiss!) spoke in favour of retaining the sign. Cr Madden said removing it would encourage campers to stay and also set a precedent to open up other potential camping spots, while Cr Hampson feared word would spread among travellers: "don't camp anywhere else, camp at Panmure, there's a great swimming hole and you don't pay any fees".
As if we’d do that, councillor? Tee hee ... see you at Panmure guys!
And, incidentally, couldn’t we do with electing a few more motorhome-loving mayors like Ken Gale? Email us here if you know of a grey nomad friendly pollie who deserves our endorsement.

October 30

The Genius of Twobob!
Friends, travellers, grey nomads! Lend me your ears. I ... inspired by forum visionary Twobob ... call upon you all to help us rid this site of the stigma of the figure 42. When thegreynomads.com.au was re-launched a couple of years ago, it received a blaze of publicity which prompted 42 ‘guests’ to visit the forum simultaneously. That figure has stood as a record at the bottom of the forum entry page ever since. It is a number that must be removed. Although the forum now regularly receives daily visitors in excess of 100 it has never been able to top 42 visitors at one time.
It was Twobob posting on the forum earlier this week who first saw the opportunity to rid the site of its badge of shame. “Sick of seeing 42 ‘guests’ as the best we can do,” he wrote, as he hatched a cunning plan. He called upon a date and time to be set in which we could all ... webmistresses, gurus, veterans, senior members, members, newbies and guests … unite to throw off the shackles of ‘42’.
I now declare the time and place to be Sunday, November 2 at 4pm-5pm AEDT (unless anyone else has got a better idea!) If we can all stay logged onto the forum at that time we may beat the 42 figure. And, as an incentive, www.thegreynomads.com.au bumper stickers will be posted to all loggers-in (as soon as they arrive).
So cancel your bushwalks, cancel your map studying sessions, cancel your happy hour drinks … and even cancel your hair washing plans ... Sunday, November 2 at 4pm-5pm. AEDT is the appointed hour. That’s: 4pm-5pm in New South Wales, ACT, Tasmania, and Victoria; 3pm-4pm in Queensland; 3:30pm-4:30pm in South Australia; 2:30pm-3:30pm in the Northern Territory; and 2pm-3pm in Western Australia.
And I call upon the inspirational Twobob to make a post on the opening bell to get the ball rolling. Can we do it, my fellow nomads? I think we can, I think we can.

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October 29

No new Developments
It seems that finally people in high places are beginning to realise that the ongoing development of some of our most scenic caravan parks is a disastrous, irreversible folly.
Queensland Sustainability Minister Andrew McNamara has just announced that three Sunshine Coast caravan parks have been nominated for heritage listing.
Heritage listing approval would remove the threat of development at the parks but would not stop facilities being improved.
“The proposed listing is recognition of the caravan parks’ role in the cultural heritage of this state,” Mr McNamara said. “The three sites were remodelled into caravan parks in the ‘50s, when the car and the van came into their own after the war.”
The sites are those at Noosa which has been a camping spot next to the river since the ‘20s, Tripcony which dates back to 1912; and Cotton Tree that has attracted holidaymakers for more than 120 years.
The Minister urged the public to have their say on the proposed listings for the Noosa and Cotton Tree parks that would block the sites from any development not in keeping with the theme of a cheap, casual holiday destination.
Premier Anna Bligh has already ruled out development of the state-owned land on which Tripcony Hibiscus stands.
The parks were identified as part of the EPA’s Cultural Heritage Branch’s Statewide Heritage Survey. The Cultural Heritage Branch contends they are an endangered aspect of Queensland’s cultural heritage.
“Over the years, many caravan parks have been sacrificed to make way for other glitzier developments but they represent a snapshot of our heritage,” Mr McNamara said.
Between Caloundra and Noosa in 1968, there were 24 private and council caravan parks. In 2007, 16 remained on the coastal strip, with no camping council reserves.
The Heritage Council has the final say on listings, in its role as the State Government’s expert advisory panel. Submissions must be sent to The Site Registrar,Cultural Heritage, EPA, PO Box 15155 City East Q 4002 by November 24.
So, put pen to paper if you’ve got the time and the inclination. We’ve already lost enough caravan parks to developers. Let’s show we care.
Do you know of any other van parks in danger from developers. Email us here.

October 28

Currency Affairs
Wow! A spot of around Aussie grey nomadding has never looked so good, has it? Okay, it’s been a bit of a disappointing year from a fuel price point of view ... and the super funds have taken a bit of a caning ... but you certainly rather be staying home than planning a big overseas holiday at the moment.
Yesterday, the Reserve Bank bought Australian dollars in a bid to shore up the shrinking value of the currency. It’s down to around the 62 US cent level ... down more than 30 per cent in a mere three months!
No wonder tourism experts reckon Aussie travellers will now start looking a bit closer to home for their adventures. And it’s about time, too! After all, who in their right mind wouldn’t trade a five star holiday in Paris or London or New York for a five million star holiday under the endless Outback sky? Who wouldn’t trade an overpriced gourmet meal at one of Gordon Ramsay’s upmarket northern hemisphere eateries for a self-caught barramundi dinner cooked over the campfire? Who wouldn’t trade the congested, pollution-filled cities of Europe for the pristine beauty of the Kimberley?
Nope, it may not feel like it now ... but the sinking Aussie dollar may have been the best thing that’s ever happened to all of you would-be overseas travellers now looking at joining the grey nomads.

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October 27

The Best Things in Life
This is almost too good to be true. Grey nomads … sign up quick for a free night’s camping at any one of a stack of participating BIG4 caravan parks Friday week.
There’s no catch. ‘ Come Camp with BIG4’ is the group’s annual night of free camping and it is offering all comers a powered or unpowered site completely free of charge.
So, forget about busting your budget … you can enjoy all those longed for luxuries … like a hot shower, power, swimming pool, laundry facilities and the rest at absolutely no cost.
You don’t even have to be a member of BIG4 to take advantage, so jump on the website www.big4.com.au ASAP and book up. The site lists all of the participating parks in all states and there’s plenty to choose from.
It’s on Friday, November 7, so don’t hang around.
Why is everything so much more pleasurable when it’s free? Enjoy.

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October 24

Surf near the Surf
Isn’t it great to see more and more caravan parks offering free wireless internet access to visitors?
This service can be a lifesaver to travel weary grey nomads hungry for news from home, the latest pictures of the grandkids, or for updates on sinking superannuation funds! And sitting outside the van sure beats skulking around town looking for an internet cafe.
A group of major caravan parks in South Australia’sYorke Peninsula are the latest to embrace the free wireless internet access trend. Travellers staying at council-managed caravan parks at Port Vincent, Coobowie, Edithburgh, Point Turton, Marion Bay and Stansbury are now able to browse the web and use web-based email systems for free with the Internode provided wireless service.
The collaborative project involved the local council paying for the capital cost of the equipment while the Internode internet company covered the cost of installing equipment and operating the service.
Acting council CEO Alan Rushbrook told the Yorke Peninsula Country Times that the council was keen to make broadband as widely available as possible.
“Now we have houses and businesses connected, we thought it would be great to extend this service to visitors,” he said. “As well as a great place to live, Yorke Peninsula is a wonderful place to visit. This free service at our caravan parks makes it even better by allowing visitors to use free internet access to learn about the range of activities available on the peninsula and to keep in contact with families and friends.”
On yer, Alan.
The following link will help you find both free and user pay wireless hotspots: www.freewifi.com.au.

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October 23

It's a Rough Life
Well, I guess we’re not all cut out for ‘roughing it’, are we?
Late last week, the Nomad reported on the positive tourism impact that the blockbuster movie Australia is likely to have when it’s released shortly.
But, according to press reports, the original Bush Tucker man, Les Hiddins, is less than impressed by the hardiness of the film’s stars ... notably, Nicole Kidman.
Apparently, Les nearly choked on his damper when he read in the ever-reliable Barra Bass and Bream magazine that our Nic and hubby Keith Urban used a helicopter to fly from Kununurra to the Outback movie set and back each day so they wouldn’t have to face the Kimberley after dark.
Nicole, you really don’t know what you’re missing!
Having said that, a recent edition of New Idea quotes Nicole talking about the hardships of filming on location - "camping out in tents in the middle of the desert" and coping with heat, dust and flies.
So, who knows where the truth of the matter lies. The stories do throw up a couple of interesting questions though. Firstly, if you were as rich as Nicole, would you pass up the opportunity to sit out there around a crackling campfire looking up at the Kimberley stars in order to enjoy the ‘luxuries’ of a Kununurra hotel?; and secondly, if you were to come across a celebrity sitting next to a campfire in the Outback somewhere, who would you like it to be and why? Email us here.

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October 22

Road Toll Shocker
The Northern Territory’s nightmare year on the roads continues. The death yesterday of a motorcyclist in Darwin brings the number of deaths on the Territory’s highways and byways so far this year to a staggering 58 ... that’s already one more than the entire of 2007. At the same time last year at this time the roll stood at 39!
The dramatic rise in road tragedies comes despite efforts to reduce the road toll with Stuart Highway speed limits and demerit points for drivers. Police are again warning all motorists of the importance of driving to suit road conditions, particularly on unfamiliar roads.
There can be no doubt that grey nomads have to be especially vigilant driving vast distances on Outback roads tourists where fatigue and unfamiliarity can be a recipe for disaster.
Earlier this year, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau statistics released statistics showing that the NT recorded more per capita road deaths than any other state or territory in 2007-08.
In the year ending June 30, NT roads claimed 32 lives per 100,000 capita. The closest state to the NT’s horrific toll was Western Australia with 10.4 road fatalities. Queensland recorded 7.9 deaths per 100,000, South Australia 6.8, Victoria 6.3, New South Wales 5.7 and the Australian Capital Territory had just 4.4 deaths per 100,000 people.
Automobile Association of the NT chief executive Linda Deans told the Northern Territory News that  the rising road toll was ‘tragic’' but said the roads could not be blamed for the deaths.
''The roads are not unsafe,'' she said. ''It is people - they are not doing the right thing whether it be drink-driving, speeding or not wearing seatbelts. Motorists need to start taking responsibility.''
But she said the NT does not have any five-star roads under the AAA rating system.
''Thirty-seven per cent of our roads are three-star,'' she said. ''The Government is aiming to make all NT roads four-star but of course it takes time.''

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October 21

Drought dries up Business
The devastating impact of the drought on Australian farmers has been well documented but it’s not just the cattlemen and crop growers who are feeling the effects of the big dry.
With whole eco-systems being changed and lakes becoming puddles and waterways becoming dryways, grey nomad habits are also changing and tourism operators are feeling the the pinch. According to the Australian newspaper, the latest water resources report from the South Australian Government reveals that last month's rains nearly doubled the inflows into the Murray over last year's levels, but this made no impact on the disastrous outlook for the river's bottom end.
South Australia is now facing its third consecutive year of drought and the strain is beginning to show, with water expert Mike Young describing the situation as “very, very frightening for everybody".
Around the lower lakes, the concern is obvious. Rob Hylton has seen a 25 per cent fall-off in turnover at his Clayton caravan park, and a 90 per cent drop at his recreational boat hire business.
The Australian says that despite lower water levels, both businesses are still viable, but customers are staying away and Mr Hylton is worried for the future.
“If we can keep this level of water for the Christmas period, then that will be OK for the kind of thing I'm doing in its reduced form," he told the newspaper. “After that, it's very hard to see what I might do - certainly the boats will be a non-goer, and just see how the caravan park survives without its trump card, which was its absolute water frontage ... eventually the bay we operate from will all be a mud flat."
A return to near-normal winter rains this year allowed the state Government to defer a decision on whether to flood the Murray's dwindling lower lakes with seawater to stave off acidification from exposed soil beds.
But the latest water resources report underscores how precarious the situation is, as evaporation increases along with demand by irrigators to divert water upstream of the lakes and the adjoining Coorong wetlands. Salinity in Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert, southeast of Adelaide, is climbing.
It’s a scary situation ... and one which will have long-term consequences. News like this and that of other climate-related anomalies even help to put concerns over high fuel prices and falling superannuation values into proper perspective. The evidence of our impact on this beautiful planet will be there for all to see long after we are all gone!

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October 20

Watch Wandering Wildlife
The danger posed by wandering wildlife to grey nomads driving on unfamiliar rural roads is being highlighted once again.
Kangaroos, wallabies and camels are all a potential threat to travellers but so, too, are cattle. There has been a series of crashes involving cattle on the roads in northern and western Queensland, and police there are urging drivers to be particularly vigilant. Detective Senior Constable Andrew Anderson from the Cloncurry Stock and Rural Crime Investigation Squad told the ‘Australia.To’ news service that drivers needed to be aware of the conditions when driving in rural areas.  
“Recently a car travelling on the Landsborough Highway south of Cloncurry hit cattle and a car travelling on the Barkly Highway west of Cloncurry also hit some cattle, killing them instantly,” he said. “We have had 14 traffic crashes reported to police which involves stock in this area in the last 12 months. This does not include all of the unreported incidents, and near misses.”
Detective Senior Constable Anderson warned the ramifications of a car being involved in a crash with live stock could be horrendous.  
“Always be on the look out for stray stock and wildlife, especially at night, even if the roadway is fenced,” Detective Senior Constable Anderson said.  “Avoid swerving to miss animals, but dip your lights, slow down and beep your horn. If drivers do come across stray cattle on the roadways they can call their local police to report the incident.”

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October 17

A New Star on the Horizon
With the much-hyped Baz Luhrmann epic Australia hitting our cinema screens next month, it’s perhaps a good time to return to a favourite topic ... whether the way the Outback is portrayed on film is likely to encourage more grey nomads to hit the open road ... or have them vowing them never to venture further than the supermarket ever again!
By all accounts, the real star of the new movie is not Nicole Kidman or Hugh Jackman but rather the stunning Outback scenery ... and that should have everyone hitching up the caravan, shouldn’t it?
But Australia’s cinematic history is not all sunsets, wildflowers and koala bears. No, not by a long shot. A recent article in The Age said it best:
“Welcome to Australia, a land of sweeping plains, psychopaths, road warriors and Abba fans. Lose yourself among the cheap high-rises and corrupt pollies in Porpoise Spit. Go walkabout in Wolf Creek: the locals will never want you to leave.”
It says the eerie horror film Wolf Creek, the bleak tangles of Lantana or the Gold Coast-style glamour of Muriel's Wedding paint a very different and probably less appealing side to the Great Southern Land than the red dust and sweeping plains shown in Australia.
"We've made a lot of films that could turn off a lot of people from liking this country," ABC film critic Margaret Pomeranz told the paper. "But then you've got The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which is such a joyous embrace of the country and the people, and says a lot about our ability to accept major differences."
Of course, Crocodile Dundee is the shining example of a feelgood Aussie movie making Outback adventures seem genuinely appealing.
Tourism Australia's general marketing manager, Nick Baker, says Australia, is set to follow in the rather big footsteps of the Paul Hogan classic and appeal to people in search of romance and adventure.
Now if that’s not a grey nomads’ call to arms I don’t know what is.

October 16

Van Parks Boom from Bust
As well as significantly shrinking our superannuation, it seems that the world’s financial crisis is – paradoxically – set to make our caravan parks more crowded.
Tourism bosses believe a falling Australian dollar and the economic turmoil will prompt more cash-strapped Aussie families to holiday closer to home.
In Victoria, coastal caravan park owners say they are already noticing a difference in booking trends.
“Those Australians that are going overseas – and that's an increasing number of them over the past five years – are more likely to stay home,”' Geelong Otways Tourism executive director Roger Grant told the Geelong Advertiser. “We do realise Melbourne is our major market – about 80 per cent of our business comes from Melbourne.”
The falling Australian dollar is making it more expensive to market the region in key areas such as the UK, Europe and North America but it would be cheaper for those people to visit Australia, Mr Grant said.
Big 4 Beacon Resort manager Lisa Shapter also told the newspaper she had noticed changes in holiday spending habits.
“I think the popularity of caravan parks now is much greater because they are much more than what people remember them being as a child,” she said. “I think definitely, for their money, people know they are going to get more value for their dollar than they would on an overseas holiday or at a five-star resort.”
Other parks along the Great Ocean Road were experiencing the same turnaround in fortunes, with stretched household budgets forcing people to rely on cheaper accommodation to make a family getaway affordable. The Big 4 at Anglesea reported more people were booking holidays far earlier to ensure they were able to secure spots along the coast at peak tourist times.
And you can bet your bottom dollar that the same thing is happening all around the country. Could shrinking Super keep some long-term nomads off the road while increasing the number of short-term holidaymakers? Is the balance of power at the caravan parks and camping spots about to change? Or will wannabe grey nomads continue to pursue their dreams whatever the bank balance says? Email us here if the financial chaos is making you change your plans.

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October 15

Remains found in Croc
Human remains have been found in the stomach of a large crocodile suspected of killing grey nomad, Arthur Booker, in far north Queensland.
Three crocodiles were captured for examination after the 62-year-old went missing last month after going to check his crab pots at the Endeavour River near Cooktown. One has since been released back into the back into the wild. Queensland state police say that forensic tests have determined that material taken from the stomach of a 4.5-metre (15 foot) crocodile came from a human male. They said more detailed DNA analysis was needed to positively identify the remains as those of Mr Booker.
Media reports say that before the human remains were confirmed, X-rays of the largest crocodile revealed a wedding ring in its stomach.
Police said the scans showed a circular object in the reptile's gut but could not confirm it was a wedding band. It is unlikely the animal, which has been described as aggressive, will be released back into the river.
Mr Booker's wife, who had been waiting for him in their car when he went to check the crab pots, alerted authorities when he failed to return. She later found his camera and one sandal close to crocodile marks near the water.
Mr Booker lived in Brisbane.

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October 14

Coffs Council Clamps Down
Like many other towns and cites, it seems Coffs Harbour is clamping down hard on free campers.
The Jetty Foreshores has become a popular spot for many visiting caravanners and motorhomers … but has become a victim of its own success inasmuch as it has attracted the attention of council rangers.
Late last week, the hardy band of travellers were warned they would be fined if they didn’t move on. According to the Coffs Harbour Advocate, the policy is backed up by a sign, just east of the rail crossing, which says 'Day visitors only. Overnight camping prohibited'. It is understood people in nearby apartments had complained about the campers, many of whom then set off for a free camping area 60km south.
Among them were Kiwi couple Judy and Robert Raymond who travel around Australia for up to 10 months of the year with their big caravan in tow.
"We got a surprise, we didn't know you couldn't stay here," Judy told the local newspaper. "This is a beautiful spot. Why can't we enjoy it like anyone else?"
The Raymonds say they are fully self-contained and don't need amenities, and they don't leave rubbish behind. Furthermore, they state they clean up others' mess.
"We eat out in town and spend money here, and we were going to spend even more money shopping on Friday, but we're leaving and won't be back," Judy told the Advocate. "We like the freedom of what we do and meeting different people. Caravan parks are not our scene you're too close to each other, and it's hard to get in and out with a big van. Also, they're often nowhere near the water and have no view."
Coffs Harbour City Council manages the Crown reserve for the Lands department, which supports the council's actions in moving the campers on.
The land is 'primarily for public recreation' and there are no facilities to support camping there, a Lands department spokeswoman said.
"There are licensed caravan and camping facilities at numerous locations in the Coffs Harbour district which provide a range of amenities and have the measures in place to ensure that the environment is adequately protected and basic standards are met."

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October 13

Bin There, Done That
There are all sorts of people travelling around Australia at any given time and it is this diversity of people that you meet that helps to make it such a special experience.
It has long been said that grey nomads can have just as good a time travelling in a cheap second-hand caravan as they can travelling in a top–of-the-range motorhome. In other words, a bigger budget doesn’t necessarily mean more fun. Now three friends from the UK are taking things one step further. After three years of planning, the adventurous trio are on their way around Australia and are doing it with nothing ... literally. The self–styled ‘cheeky’ travellers started their odyssey by giving away all of their possessions – including their clothes - and by wearing bin bags on the streets of Brisbane.
The self-imposed rules of their trip state that they can earn no cash but must simply work in exchange for food and everything else they need along the way. Their adventure got off to a good start when one man gave the bin-bag wearing Brits his thongs and other much-needed items of clothing.
The trio ... Anne Race, Phil Carr and Gareth Owen ... hope their trip will be sufficiently different to attract enough publicity to help them raise $25,000 for child literacy charity Bookaid International.
"We are hoping that by doing the trip this way (depending on other people to donate everything) we can highlight the problems faced by people who have no money," said Gareth. "We have thought hard about what the possible problems might be, and how we might overcome them, but so far we're doing really well, and we've had promises of food and places to stay."
So, now along with unbelievably brave solo around-Oz cyclists and long-distance walkers, we have ‘cheeky’ travellers. It really does take all sorts to make the Big Lap such an amazing experience adventure. What are the most interesting characters you have met out there on the highways and byways? Email us here to let us know.

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October 10

Tragic Death in NW WA
The discovery in the Kimberley earlier this week of the body of a man believed to be a grey nomad is yet another chilling reminder for us all to be incredibly careful when travelling in remote areas.
As was noted in the forum section of this website, the 53-year-old victim from Queensland, whose name has not been released, had written “help” in the sand near a makeshift shelter. An empty water bottle was found hanging from a tree nearby. Police say the man did not have any water with him, and he had probably been dead for several days before he was found by staff on the Meda cattle station, some 40km west of Derby. An aerial search found the man's vehicle several kilometres from his body, bogged in a tidal creek.
The tragedy is particularly sobering as it comes hot on the heels of the suspected crocodile attack death of grey nomad Arthur Booker in far north Queensland.
Police say that, in the event of vehicle problems on outback roads, people should remain with their car as long as they have supplies of food and water. They say, the Kimberley death is a clear lesson for people travelling in the outback to inform police, friends or relatives of their plans.
And, with temepratures in WA’s north-west soaring above 40 degrees this week, the State Emergency Service (SES) is emphasising yet again that people simply must carry adequate supplies of water.
Kimberley SES spokesman Gary Adcock says each person travelling in the bush should carry three litres of water per day. He says in the Kimberley's extreme conditions, people are in real trouble if they run out of water.
"Currently we've had yesterday in Broome in the 40's and in Derby and up the Gibb River Road and places like that can be even warmer than that," he told the ABC. "Those conditions with no water and even just being out in the sun can take their toll in a matter of hours. You can live without food for a number of weeks, but water, no way, it’s a must have.”
While the numbers of grey nomads venturing into remote areas is increasing all of the time, it certainly doesn’t make the country any less dangerous. Take advice, plan properly, be careful and enjoy.
Once again our thoughts are with the family of the victim of the Kimberley tragedy.

October 9

Remote Revelations
Well, I guess all of you who have been out there would be aware that remote Australia is a little rough around the edges in places ... but a group of experts says that due to a perfect storm of social and economic neglect it has now, in effect, become a failed state.
A report by the think-tank Desert Knowledge Australia warns that vast swathes of the outback urgently need assistance to stem the crises that could pose a threat to national security and the economy. It says remote Australia – which accounts for some 85 per cent of the continent - already fits the criteria of failed states with endemic poverty, a lack of services, financial mismanagement and high rates of homicide and violence.
The report makes for grim reading and the group of prominent Australians - including academics, politicians, public servants and mining executives - behind it, say what is required is a radical rethink for the region that holds 65 percent of our resources wealth.
It claims that abandoning remote Australia could raise the risk of a foreign invasion or of the lucrative resources zones becoming contested as the land becomes largely abandoned.
"It could be argued that our tenure of remote Australia under the present regime (fly-in, fly-out or relatively short term residence) in nature, which means that the vast resource zones could end up being contested, by virtue of the land being considered 'unsettled'," the report said.
It says that a succession of Australian governments were guilty of a failure of vision and policy. The results were declining populations and crumbling infrastructure are turning remote areas of Australia into a largely unsettled wilderness.
Do you agree with the think tank’s findings? Is Outback Australia in crisis? Email us here to let us know what you think.

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October 8

Ripe for the Picking
An early harvest in Western Australia has left the State’s main grain handler scrambling for workers … and appealing to grey nomads to come to the rescue.
According to a report in the West Australian, wheat is about to start pouring into grain bins around Geraldton.
Grain handler Co-operative Bulk Handling has turned to grey nomads to help bring in this year’s harvest which is starting earlier than usual this year due to early plantings and warm temperatures.
CBH needs a total of 1500 workers at its 198 grain receival sites across the State.  
The early start to the season has meant that university students who typically make up the bulk of CBH’s workforce are unable to help.
“We need 1500 workers across the State, the warmer weather has put us in a bind, to the extent that we’ve done an additional recruitment campaign,” the company’s Employment services manager Kim Eddy told the newspaper.
“There are more and more people who are caravanning around Australia and want to pick up a bit of money on their way … in the last few years more and more have been coming through.”
Despite a dry August, there are still hopes this year’s grain crop will exceed 2007’s 8.8 million tonnes, which came after two years of drought. But the ensuing demand for 300 extra workers compared with last year has placed extra pressure on CBH, with early harvests making it hard to recruit.

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October 7

Should Crocs be Culled?
While the search continues for the victim of last week’s suspected crocodile attack in north Queensland, debate on the way to deal with the reptiles is heating up.
Queensland MP Bob Katter has been leading the call for a cull of the creatures, an approach firmly rejected by wildlife lovers.
Grey nomad Arthur Booker disappeared while checking his crab pots in the Endeavour River near Cooktown. Crocodile slide marks were seen near the spot and personal items belonging to Mr Booker have also been recovered from close by.
A number of large saltwater crocs are known to inhabit that section of the Endeavour River and a 4.3m saltie was trapped on Saturday night near the spot where Mr Booker disappeared. It will be X-rayed see if it was responsible for the attack.
For all the shock over the suspected death of Mr Booker, Australia Zoo senior wildlife ranger Barry Lyon is adamant that a cull is not the answer. He says crocodiles are a part of life in the north, and people who choose to camp or fish in croc infested waters needed to be on their guard.
It’s a lesson we all need to learn and we also need to guard against complacency.
“People should stay out of the water, camp well away from the water, and go fishing in a good sturdy high-sided boat," he told the ABC. “And they shouldn’t throw food scraps or fish carcasses into the river as that attracts crocs ... it’s like fast food for them ... and it puts people in a very dangerous situation."
Mr Lyon said crocodiles, because of their place at the top of the food chain, were an essential part of river and lagoon eco systems in the north.
He said extensive hunting of the large reptiles following World War II had a massive impact on river systems in the area.
"The eco systems were so out of balance that catfish were hugely abundant, we'd go fishing and you might catch 20 catfish for one barra," Mr Lyon told the national broadcaster.
"Since then the crocodiles have recovered and now you hardly ever catch a catfish - that's a good example of how they keep the whole system healthy."
He said that while the presumed attack on Mr Booker was a terrible tragedy, a cull would achieve nothing.
"It's just not going to work, the thing with crocodiles is that you can never guarantee that you've hunted them all out," Mr Lyon said. “There's always going to be some survivors and some moving in from other areas to take their place."

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October 3

Stay Safe in the Outback
I guess it should come as no surprise that yet another study has found that it is
far more dangerous to drive on country roads than in urban areas.
Certainly, from a grey nomad’s perspective, wandering stock, weaving road trains, narrow roads, potholes, sometimes long hours of driving and the fact we’re normally driving a large rig means we have to keep our wits about us at all times. The latest road safety study by a Queensland University of Technology researcher has found road safety messages aren't reaching drivers in the bush.
"Even though rural resident make up less than a third of drivers, half of every road fatality will come from the country," Queensland University of Technology PhD student Gayle Sticher said. "Rural drivers seem to be resistant to the road safety messages that work in the city."
She said this was partly because road safety campaigns show urban-based interventions and deal with driving situations, such as traffic lights and stop signs, which aren't common in the country ... and therefore country drivers developed a lower perception of risk on the road.
"For example, even though 70 per cent of crashes involved a single vehicle, far north Queensland road users believed that road crashes are primarily caused by other people, particularly town or city drivers,” she said. “They also believe that adverse road conditions or the weather are to primarily blame for car crashes.”
So what does all of this mean for us? It basically means be extra careful, don’t push yourself and don’t be in a hurry.

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October 2

The Toast of the Outback
I guess sometimes we might get the feeling that our beloved politicians don’t fully understand what the grey nomad lifestyle is all about ... or indeed what the challenges, financial and otherwise, we face on the road.
It was a nice surprise then to hear one Federal MP set the record straight in no uncertain terms when venting his spleen about the need for more cash to upgrade the Outback Highway. Who would have thought as veteran Kalgoorlie MP Barry Haase rose to his feet late last month to address the House, he was about to appoint himself Minster for Grey Nomads. You could have heard a pin drop as he began.
“Think of the grey nomads, of whom we are all very proud and for whom we would like to get a decent pension,” he told his snoozing colleagues. “When grey nomads plan their trip to see Australia—often their once-in-a-lifetime trip—they want surety.”
Too right, Bazza.
“They are already saddled with the highest petrol prices this nation has ever seen,” he thundered, warming to his task. “They are already trying to survive on the smell of a greasy rag, with jam and baked beans for dinner!”
Yeehaii! Finally, a pollie who understands. “Jam and baked beans!” Actually, it doesn’t sound too bad. I might give it a try later.
Anyway, the Minister for Grey Nomads, who also doubles as the Liberals’ Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Roads and Transport, was adamant that the Outback Way, which runs from Queensland through the Northern Territory to Western Australia, should be upgraded to an all-weather road at the very least.
I only hope Kev was listening when Barry returned to the subject of grey nomads.
“They cannot afford to get stuck on the side of the road for three weeks waiting for the water to go down because the road has not been designed to deal with localised, short-term flooding,” he told the House. “I am not asking for a bitumen highway, nor are my supporters in Central Australia, but we would like a road that is engineered to make it safe and well drained so when we get that localised flooding the road is passable. It is not too much to ask, surely, in 2008!”
Now, here’s a man who’s going to get things done. In all seriousness, he is absolutely right about the Outback Highway. What can we say ... other than: Barry, you’re a legend. Keep up the good work.
If you want to tell Barry Haase how much you enjoyed his “jam and baked beans” speech click on the link below and use the online form to email him.
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/memfeedback.asp?id=84T
And email us here at Grey Nomads Central if you would like to offer your support to the “Barry for PM” campaign.

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October 1

Fatal Croc Attack
Tragically sad news from north Queensland. It appears that a 63-year-old grey nomad was taken by a crocodile while checking on his crab traps yesterday morning.
He has been named as Arthur Booker, a former Digger with the 1st armoured regiment who served in Vietnam.
Mr Booker’s wife, Doris, became concerned when he did not return from his stroll down to the banks of the Endeavour River near Cooktown, about 340 kilometres north of Cairns. Apparently, when she visited the crab pot site, she found a snapped rope on the river bank, large crocodile slide marks and the couple’s new video recorder laying there.
The couple from Brisbane had been enjoying a caravan trip around Australia, and were apparently packed up and ready to move on when tragedy struck.
While the crocodile attack had yet to be confirmed, the Endeavour River is known to have a large population of saltwater crocs. Police and rangers have confirmed that that particular section of the Endeavour River is the known territory of two monster crocs, Charles and Harriet, both estimated to be up to 6m long.
Crocodile expert Gary Zillfleisch says now is the most dangerous time of year for attacks ahead of the animal's nesting season.
“He (the victim) could have been in an area of a nesting site and also he may have left bait there and established a habit pattern,” he told the ABC. “One of the things crocodiles work on is return visits.”
The national broadcaster also quotes Leanne Rayner - the owner of the camping ground where the man and his wife have been staying – as saying everyone there is in shock.
“I have seen crocodiles in the river but they've never caused any problem to anybody and they don't come up on that bank or that area at all,” she said. “They are normally further down the river.”
The last fatal crocodile attack near Cooktown was in August 2005 when a fisherman was dragged from a canoe at the Lakefield National Park.
This latest tragedy is yet another reminder of the real threat posed by saltwater crocs and other creatures when we encroach on their territory. Let’s all be especially careful.
Our thoughts are with Mr Booker’s wife and family at this terrible time.

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