The Nomad … news, views, comment, opinion

December 31

Happy New Year everybody! I’ve got a funny feeling that this year is going to be an absolute beauty and is going to bring you all the fun, adventure and friendship you seek. Fingers crossed!
Hopefully, 2010 managed to lived up to all of your expectations and you escaped relatively unscathed from the ravages of the ongoing global financial uncertainty and the devastating floods that have affected so much of this country for so many weeks and months.
Like all years though, 2010 no doubt threw up some challenges as well as plenty of opportunities. Perhaps, the opportunity to upgrade your rig or even to get your very first one. Perhaps, the opportunity to visit a place or places you always dreamed of reaching. No doubt the year’s travels have also given you the opportunity to make many, many new friends out on the road and in this country’s numerous fantastic camping spots and caravan parks.
We feel sure that 2011 will offer at least as many opportunities, and that all you positive, friendly adventure-seeking grey nomads will seize them all with both hands.
Hopefully too, this website will continue to offer you opportunities. Certainly, opportunities to interact with like-minded travellers and wannabe travellers. Perhaps also, opportunities to find a housesitting position or a temporary job, or maybe to learn about a certain region in advance of a visit, or to discover more about the different ways people travel.
It has definitely been a big year for www.thegreynomads.com.au. We have seen our daily unique visitor numbers shoot up to around 600 and our forum has become an even more lively and informative place to visit. We thank you all for helping to make this site the success s it has become. We are all too well aware that it is each and every one of you who make this a place that people want to come back to to again and again, and that it is your experiences, insight and advice that is helping to enrich the lives of thousands of fellow grey nomads through these pages.
2011 promises to be an equally massive year for this website and, as membership climbs well above the 2000 mark, we will be redoubling our efforts to bring you the very best information and news  from the ever-expanding world of the grey nomad.
As well as our daily Nomad and Weekly Mailbag columns we will be updating our article database far more regularly to bring you more stories of the characters, products and places out there which help to enrich the on-the road lifestyle.
We will also be introducing more competitions, more prizes, more grey nomads merchandise, and doing all we can to further increase the interactive nature of the site.
It’s going to be a big and exciting year and one we look forward to sharing with you. Please keep in touch and let us know what you like, what you don’t like and what you would like to see more of from the site. But above all else, please keep positive, please keep safe, and please enjoy everything that there is to enjoy in this wonderful country as you meander through it. We should always remember just how lucky we are to be able to live and to travel here.
Happy 2011 to you and your loved ones!

***

December 29

Floodwaters still Rising
As floodwaters continue to rise in many parts of the east coast, the full impact of the disaster has yet to be realised.
In Queensland's southern inland town of Chinchilla, another 50 homes are expected to go underwater, and the situation is equally dire in a number of other communities which say they are experiencing their worst floods in decades.
A disaster has been declared in Theodore, Chinchilla and Dalby, as well as in Alpha and Jericho in the central west and at Warra on the Western Downs.
The weather bureau says the deluge, which has caused widespread flooding in southern and central Queensland, is now only slowly making its way towards the sea.
Authorities are also turning their attention to Emerald and Rockhampton, where flooding is expected to peak in coming days.
It is estimated that as many as 400 homes in Rockhampton could go underwater, while about 200 homes and businesses are expected to be inundated in Emerald.
As well as the almost unimaginable misery this is all causing to residents, it is, of course, also  having a huge effect on grey nomads and other travellers. Road closures and uncertainty about what lies ahead is keeping would-be visitors away in their droves, and many of those that are already ‘in situ’ are getting out while they can.
The popular Beachside Caravan Park at Yeppoon near Rockhampton is usually running at 100% capacity at this time of year, but manager Trevor Neilsen says it is currently only 75% full.
“It’s been a mixed bag, we were full and knocking people back for three months and now all of the people out west can’t get here,” he told the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin. “We have had a few people move out who were in tents as they were getting inundated but people with caravans are okay.”
Keppel Sands Caravan Park manager Belinda Langley said she only had “a couple” of people at the park, and many who left had to leave their belongings behind.
“We have let people leave their tents and caravans,” she said. “I think their homes are more important, and when it’s dry they will come and collect them.”
Belinda, like a lot of tourist operators around the area, said many visitors chose to cancel their holiday altogether.
“We wouldn’t have even made half of what we did last year,” she said.
While we are occasionally critical of caravan parks in these columns, particularly when they take an aggressive stance towards free camping areas, these sorts of events remind us all of what a hard and unpredictable business it can be.
Park owners and managers, alongside so many others in these flood-ravaged communities, are doing it tough right now. Our thoughts are with them all.
Have you been affected by the floods? Email us here to share your experiences.

***

December 23

Happy Holidays
I would just like to take the opportunity to wish all grey nomads a Merry Christmas wherever you may be.
I am sure many of you will be tucked up in a nice ‘secret’ camping spot far from the madding crowds, while others will be enjoying the burly burly of festive period camping in some of our more popular caravan parks. Hopefully, a good few of you are also taking the chance to catch up with some family members and perhaps park the rig in the driveway of a welcoming relative for a spell.
Wherever you are though, please enjoy a safe and happy festive period.  And, amongst all the festivities, don’t forget to take the time recharge those batteries … because you’ve got an exciting year ahead!
Very best wishes to you all.

***

December 22

Water in the West
Well, it’s been the west’s turn to cop some severe weather over the past few days and flooding has been an issue for both residents and travellers.
The town of Carnarvon, 900 kilometres north of Perth in Western Australia's Gascoyne region, was cut off from all sides as more than 300 millimetres of rain fell. Apparently, the town received its annual rainfall in just 22 hours.
As crews battled to stop floodwaters reaching the centre of the town, the caravan park was among a number of businesses that we evacuated. Happily, the reinforced levees helped to
prevent the overflowing Gascoyne River from swamping the town, but surrounding plantations
and pastoral stations have been hammered with big livestock and crop losses.
As the water from the worst flooding on record recedes, the area faces a massive clean-up. Residents who had been evacuated could soon be allowed back to assess damage and begin the massive task.
The WA government has declared the area a disaster zone, along with parts of the Pilbara and Mid-West regions, making residents and local authorities eligible for financial assistance for clean-up and recovery.
It's feared that many of the region's historic pastoral homesteads, many made of mud bricks, could have been irreparably damaged by floodwaters.
Have you been caught up in the floods in the west or elsewhere? Email us here to share your experiences.

***

December 20

A Laughing Matter
Amidst what can seem like an endless torrent of bad health news for mature-aged people it’s wonderful sometimes to come across a spark of light, a glimmer of hope hidden beneath the murky waters of advancing age. And the good news is … we are losing our hair earlier!
Nah, just kidding. But if you laughed then you are among the majority of grey nomads that still have a wonderful sense of humour.
Research carried out in Canada has revealed that older people are just as competent at understanding and appreciating humour as everyone else … at least they are most of the time.
Wow! After worrying about rising blood pressure, varicose veins, bald patches, and moments of forgetfulness, it’s a huge relief to know that we are still good at laughing about it all.
Actually, the study published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, sadly did also show that the ability to understand more complex jokes can deteriorate with age.
Dr Prathiba Shammi from the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care in Toronto has put the blame on the part of the brain associated with humour, the right frontal lobe. He says that people with damage in this area of the brain are less able to appreciate clever punchlines and thus prefer slapstick humour.
Hey! Hang on a minute. Just because I was laughing at that guy who nearly jackknifed while trying to reverse his van into site 26 doesn’t mean I’m past it, you know?
Anyway, it’s good to laugh. According to Dr Shammi, "It is integral to social interaction and it has long been postulated that humour may enhance quality of life, assist in stress management, and help us cope with the stresses of ageing.”
Crumbs of comfort, people. Crumbs of comfort.
In the end, I guess the study has confirmed what most if us already knew. A stroll around a caravan park or camping area during happy hour would quickly reveal to all sundry that grey nomads certainly know how to laugh and to have a good time.
Do you like slapstick humour more than you used to? Confess here.

***

December 16

GNs Unclassified
Are the over-55s being simplistically and somewhat flippantly dismissed as being ...well ... nothing more than over 55?
Australia’s leading demographer Bernard Salt certainly thinks so. And he could be on to something.
In a recent newspaper column, he makes the point that all the life stages are very regularly marked out ... at least they are until we reach 55 and then everything else is lumped together in one giant bundle under one catch-all label ... over 55s.
He writes: “Life begins with infancy, which lasts for a year. Then there are toddlers who run amok between one and three years. Then there's the preschool, the primary school and the secondary school stages that take the life cycle to 17.
“Superimposed on these bands are definitions such as pre- and post-puberty which roughly equate to before and after the age of 12. And then there's the teenage years, which by definition stretch between 13 and 19. There's even a time in life when newspapers refer to young males as ‘youths’ who seem to inhabit the 15-to-17 space.”
He says that beyond the late teens lie young adulthood, the newlywed and the young-parent phases in life.  The late 20s and early 30s are known as the "household formation" stage in the life cycle whereas the 40s are often referred to as "mature family".
“And then the concept of naming a group of years for a stage in the life cycle mysteriously stops,” says Mt Salt. “Occasionally ‘mature family’ is extended to 54, but anything thereafter is known collectively as the over-55s.”
Sigh! It seems to Mr Sale that the only life forms to carve out separate existences beyond 55 are the grey nomads and the retirees. Hooray for us!
“Now this is what I find unfair,” writes Mr Salt. “Life expectancy extends to the mid-80s, which means that all of life's last 30 years are barely distinguishable.”
He says that no one under 50 seems to cares about the personal growth that might take place between 65 and 70. To young people, he believes, this half-decade swishes about within a bigger grab-bag of old age.
“And yet in the under 40 space every few years is tagged and admired,” he writes. “Well, I say enough's enough. I may not be in the over-55s space, but I want to ensure that when I do cross the line I'm not lumped in with, you know, old people.”
Okay, so here’s Mr Salt’s propsed new definitions of the life stages that baby boomers are likely to forge in the last 30 years of life.

• Portfolio Lifestyle (55-64): There are 2.5 million Australians in this life stage now; this number is expected to rise by 18 per cent over the coming decade. The portfolio lifestyle stage is a new concept invented by baby boomers as a precursor to retirement. In this stage, boomers partly work and partly focus on lifestyle. They resign and come back to work as a consultant, a contractor, a mentor or, ultimate boomer fantasy, a non-executive director.
• Active Retirement (65-74): There are 1.6 million Australians in the active retirement stage of life at the moment, but by 2020 this number will be 47 per cent higher. Active retirees are interested in wellness, wellbeing, travel (includes grey nomads), connecting with adult children (using new technology) and sharing time with grandchildren. Active retirees pursue clubs, volunteering opportunities and spiritual growth.
• Going Solo (75-84): There are 994,000 people in this age group now; by 2020, this number will rise by 33 per cent. Most Australians die in this decade, which means there will be a shift from older couple households to older single households. Going solo is fine and dandy at 25; at 80 it's a different story. A wider circle of friends evaporate or, more properly, die off by this stage. Work contacts have long since withered. What is left is a tight circle based around children and young adult grandchildren.
• Frail (85-plus): There are 401,000 people aged 85-plus in Australia now; by 2020, this number is expected to be 547,000. By this stage in life, many people are utterly alone in the sense that few friends survive. Life partners are also unlikely to survive in tandem: typically, one outlasts the other. Social circles and physical mobility close ranks.

Hats off to Mr Salt for pointing out to anyone who will listen that not all over 55s are the same and they do deserve their own life stage category. Do you agree with Mr Salt’s categories? Do you think the grey nomad category itself is already too broad? Should there be sub-categories within it? If so, what should they be? Email us here to share your thoughts.

***

December 15

AT What Price?
The controversial plans to build a $30 billion gas plant on Western Australia's Kimberley coast have moved a step closer to becoming a reality – despite the howls of protest from environment
lovers.
A 1500-page study, just released by the West Australian Department of State Development, has
given the all-clear to Woodside Petroleum's preferred site of James Price Point, 60km north of Broome.
For those of you who do not know the area, this is a truly magnificent spot boasting a pristine camping area that has long been cherished by grey nomads and other travellers. And, of course, the scale of the proposed project is such that it is not just one camping area or one beach that faces destruction. The Browse Project, as it is known, would need up to 14 pipelines, a massive breakwater
extending for several kilometres out to sea, the removal of 1.5km of shoreline at James Price Point and 21 million cubic metres of seabed dredging.
The Wilderness Society says Browse will also produce up to 39 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year, which would amount to 50 per cent of WA's total emissions.
The Society’s state co-ordinator, Peter Robertson, condemned the new report as "incomplete" and "deeply flawed". He said the study failed to assess feasible gas processing options outside the Kimberley even though these were preferred by some of the Browse partners, including Shell, Chevron and BHP.
However, Woodside, which owns 46 per cent of the Browse venture and which would operate the project, welcomed the release of the government's report.
Senior vice-president for Browse, Michael Hession, said it validated the choice of James Price Point as the preferred location and included management plans that would ensure the development could co-exist with the environment.
He said the report found the Browse project would create thousands of jobs and could boost Australia's gross domestic product by about $64 billion over its lifetime. It also said the project would also provide a major economic boost to Kimberley traditional owners, who have been promised a $1.5bn package of benefits over 30 years in exchange for use of the land. The plan still requires state and federal approval.
Well, it seems, the conundrum remains the same. Short-term economic benefits versus the preservation of a pristine, impossibly beautiful, unique piece of Australia. Surely, anyone who has ever camped at James Price or any of the other magnificent spots close by could only have one view.
Have you camped at James Price or Quondong Point or Beagle Bay or any of the other camping spots here? Please email us and tell us about your views of the area and whether you think it should be preserved for future generations to enjoy.

***

December 14

Tragic Drowning
The drowning of a teenage girl at a popular Queensland swimming hole last weekend serves as a sobering reminder to us all of just how quickly a day of relaxing fun can turn tragedy – particularly when there is water about.
The death is particularly resonant as it took place at Alligator Creek in Bowling Green Bay National Park near Townsville, a camping spot that has long been popular with grey nomads.
The 17-year-old girl was apparently riding down a natural rock slide there when she lost her balance and her leg became trapped underwater. Friends and swimmers rushed to her aid but a torrential downpour dramatically changed conditions at the waterhole.
“That area can turn from sedate to extremely nasty in 5-10 minutes,” Townsville District Acting Inspector Gary Eddiehausen told local media.
The group tried to keep the girl's head above water but the fast-flowing water forced them to leave her.
"They had to make the decision to get out of the water after about 15 minutes or else they would have been getting into difficulty themselves," said Acting Inspector Eddiehausen. “Two rapid response Queensland Fire and Rescue Service officers then jumped into the stream to attempt to free the girl but the force of the water was too much for them.
Acting Inspector Eddiehausen said while the girl's death was a tragic and possibly unforeseeable accident, it should serve as a warning about the dangers of floodwaters.
This was the fourth flood-related death in Queensland in the past fortnight.

***

December 13

Snake Danger
The weather is well and truly warming up now and it’s as good a time as any to remind ourselves to be super snake aware.
To many, bush walking and remote camping are a couple of the greatest attractions of the grey nomad lifestyle but they can also expose us to some of the greatest risks. It is important that we apply commonsense rules when out and about and – however statistically unlikely it is – that we have at least a basic understanding of how to act if we are bitten by a snake.
The fact that in the small Queensland town of Bundaberg alone, three people were taken to hospital on Friday with snake bite injuries should alert us to the fact that the threat is real. All three victims were treated and released. Snake bites make up just over 50% of all animal/insect bite related hospital admissions.
According to Intensive Care Paramedic Paul Everett, while it is important to try to identify the type of snake involved, you should never try to kill or catch it.
“People attempting to catch the offending snake, often get bitten themselves. Instead, take note of the colour for identification,” he said. “People should always assume the snake is venomous and phone triple zero immediately.”
Paul said signs of a snake bite can range from nausea, headache or blurred vision, through to difficulties in breathing and loss of consciousness and said this is the time for first aid and cool heads.
“Keeping the patient calm is very important. If they are kept calm and still, the venom won’t spread as quickly through their body,” he said. “If someone has been bitten you should bandage the entire wounded limb with the same firmness as you would use for a sprained ankle, not too tight and not too loose.”
But according to the Intensive Care Paramedic, the best advice for snake bites is to take precautions to avoid being bitten in the first place.
“If bushwalking or walking through grassy areas, always wear long pants and enclosed footwear,” Paul said.
Many grey nomads planning a trip around Australia choose to enrol in a first aid course to better equip themselves for dealing with a snakebite or any other medical emergency.
TIPS/PRECAUTIONS – Sourced from Queensland Ambulance Service

• If you are able, call 000 immediately if you or your companion have been bitten.
• Avoid washing the wound as hospitals can test the bandage for poison and may be able to identify the type of snake, which will aid in treatment.
• If only one bandage is available, start over the bite site and then work up the limb.
• If more than one bandage is available bandage over the bite site, and then with a second bandage start at the extremities (fingers or toes) and work up the limb.
• Bandage the limb firmly as you would for a sprained ankle. Splint the limb to keep it straight.

***

December 10

Wetter and Wilder
Our hearts go out to the residents of Queanbeyan and other flood affected areas across the country as rains and rising water levels continue to cause widespread chaos.
While, in the main, the ongoing deluge is bringing travelling grey nomads little more than inconvenience and perhaps some discomfort, the floods are having a major impact on other people’s lives.
Thousands of farmers, homeowners and business operators are hoping and praying that Mother Nature doesn’t inflict yet more misery upon them.
The town of Queanbeyan near Canberra has suffered its worst floods in more than three decades and was yesterday turned into an inland sea. Homes and businesses were flooded, schools and shopping centres were closed, a caravan park and sports fields were under water and 12 people had to be rescued by boat as the town was effectively cut in half by floodwater.
In southern New South Wales, the Tumut River is said to be rising rapidly and authorites are door-knocking landholders downstream to warn them of the impending flood.
The Hume Highway at Tarcutta Creek in the state's southwest was closed because of flooding, and heavy rains and strong winds have been lashng Wagga Wagga. The SES fears Tarcutta creek
will rise to levels never seen before. Click here to see the latest road closure news.
It seems the effects of the severe weather are being felt across the eastern states with flood waters still rising in Victoria's north-east. State Emergency Service crews have helped to relocate campers at Myrtleford and Moyhu as the Ovens and King rivers swell. And residents in the central Queensland city of Rockhampton have begun sandbagging homes in preparation for a 7.8-metre flood peak expected early next week. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the Fitzroy River will reach seven metres over the weekend and peak at 7.8 metres on Monday or Tuesday. The flood could cut off some homes for a week.
In South Australia, flood warnings have been issued for areas north of Adelaide as the state starts to count the cost of record-breaking thunderstorms. It’s a bleak and heartbreaking picture, and is another sobering reminder of the power and unpredictability of nature. Please take care where you camp and take care on the roads.
Have you been affected by the floods? Email us here to share your experiences.

***

December 9

While the unusually high amounts of rain seen in many parts of the country have not been universally welcomed by grey nomads, the deluge certainly has had some benefits.
In South Australia, The Murray River is flowing at 56,000 megalitres per day thanks to heavy winter rains in the eastern states and is, according to officials, “a sight to see”.
"The increased flow is a well-overdue relief for the native fauna and flora in the area, with perfect timing for tree growth, fish breeding, migration and water bird breeding," said Riverland district ranger, Phil Strachan. "While the additional water is a welcome relief to many, visitors should be aware that it has resulted in changed access to some roads and campsites in the Riverland region."
Indeed, as the equivalent of 19,000 Olympic-size swimming pools flows into the Coorong every day, water is spilling over river banks and into some of the area's parks and reserves.
Mr Strachan said half of the Riverland's 300 campsites would be closed by the end of the week and were unlikely to re-open until next month.
"The water levels are rising and most of our reserve camp sites are on floodplains," he told Adelaide Now. "A number of roads have been cut-off so you can't get to certain camping areas and a number of camping sites are partly inundated ... you can't put your tent up and it's dangerous to get your car there."
The affected camping sites are at Chowilla, Moorook, Loch Luna and the Katarapko and Lyrup flats in the Murray River National Park.
 Mr Strachan said boaties and other water users, such as swimmers and water skiers, needed to be careful of hazardous objects such as branches, sticks and timber floating on or below the surface, in creeks and waterways.
He said about 150 Riverland camp sites remained open and he still expected good visitor numbers over the Christmas holiday period.
"There will be a lot of people using the river over the next month or so over Christmas,” he said. “I'd say it's going to be a popular place to be because it's the first flood since the mid-1990s."
Are you enjoying the high water levels in the Murray? Have you seen how the Coorong has been transformed?  Have you been affected by campground closures? Email us here to share your experiences.

December 8

Still Sport Barmy?
Oh, the agony and the ignominy. An innings and 71 run defeat at the hands of our traditional cricketing foe … the Poms. 
While Ricky Ponting and the boys may cop a fair bit of abuse at the hands of the media here as the Ashes look like slipping away again, and Australians abroad may take some mickey-taking from the oft-beaten English, I’d love to know you have fared in the caravan parks and camping grounds around the country. 
It’s at times like this that smiling English travellers seem to pop up at even the most remote locations and it seems you can’t even skulk off to the amenities block or the laundry room without hearing a broad British accent! Where were they all before now? 
Oh! The shame of it.  
For many of us, of course, sport remains an integral part of our grey nomad adventure even though we may be thousands of kilometres away from our favourite AFL side  or rugby league team. The groans and cheers that go up at van parks in all states when a State of Origin try is scored is proof that we don’t leave our loyalties behind when we hitch up the rig to hit the open road. 
So, please drop us a line with your favourite sports on the road stories. Have you been sledged by crowing Pommie grey nomads?  Do you always manage to find a TV connection when your team is playing a big game? Have you broken away from your Big Lap to fly back to watch your team in the Grand Final? Is it at times like this (an Ashes hammering) that you are glad you are sitting in the middle of the Simpson Desert? 
Email us here to share. 

***

December 7

Weather Woes
The unseasonal rain that has lashed the eastern states recently is not making life as pleasant as it could be for sun-seeking grey nomads.
Of course, the weather conditions can make driving that little bit more hazardous, flash flooding
is a real threat and dirt roads a virtual no-no. We have already seen some caravan parks evacuated due to rising rivers and we can expect more of the same in the coming days and
possibly weeks.
Sigh!
And all the rain may be an indication that we are in for a big cyclone season in the north. Indeed, Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) has issued a special warning to caravan parks close to the coast to prepare for the worst. With many of the region’s van parks located in low-lying areas near beaches, rivers and lakes and with forecasters predicting wild weather, EMQ is recommending they revise and update any emergency plans which are in place.
EMQ regional director for Central Queensland Robbie Medlin told the Gladstone Observer that while some areas have not had to worry about floods or severe weather for a long time, conditions can change quickly and everyone needed to be prepared.
He said it was a good idea for caravan park owners or managers to prepare an emergency management plan providing for evacuation procedures in the case of an emergency.
“If they already have a plan, it is worth revisiting it and ensuring it is still current,” Mr Medlin said. “Throughout the wet season they are also urged to keep an eye on weather and to keep their residents and visitors up to date with any threats of potential weather events.”
Tannum Beach Caravan Village manager Colin Anderson said all the rainfall they had been receiving points to a “big (cyclone) season”.
“We have been trimming all the trees and getting the place all tidied up in case of storms and the possibility of cyclones,” Mr Anderson told the Observer. “We have a procedure in place if it looks like a big blow, and are constantly monitoring the weather and keeping village residents informed.”
Manager of Agnes Water Beach Caravan Park, Mark Perks, said it was important to have an evacuation plan in place and to keep people informed of what was happening.
“We almost live on BOM (Bureau of Meteorology website) and keep people in the park informed of any weather situations,” Mr Perks said.
Mr Medlin said caravan park residents and visitors needed to consider what they would do in an emergency with camping accommodation often more vulnerable to the weather than other buildings.
He said people should consider that if a flood or weather event was imminent they might need to raise items in annexes, raise or relocate boats, secure objects that are likely to float or cause damage including gas bottles.
Gulp!
I guess this is one of those times when we should all plan for the worst and hope for the best. Has the wet weather put a dampener on your grey nomad experience? How do you have a good time in the rain? Have you ever been caught in a cyclone? How often do you check the BoM website? Email us here to share your weather woes.

***

December 6

Locusts Plague Victoria
Well, we knew it could be coming but the locust plague which has hit Victoria is bigger than expected ... and is already threatening to become the state's worst in 75 years.
Warm weather across the state today certainly isn’t going to help and high-density swarms - more than 50 locusts per cubic metre - have been sighted around Echuca in the north of the state as they head south. According to media reoorts, swarms have also been reported across central Victoria.
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) state locust director Rob Walker said the movement of locust swarms was unpredictable, but swarms varying from low to high density have been reported from areas along the Murray River and south of Swan Hill. Some of the swarms reportedly stretch up to 25 kilometres wide.
The DPI's locust swarm activity map shows locusts have been seen on Melbourne's outskirts in Sunbury and Epping. Callers to Fairfax Radio have reported seeing locusts even closer to Melbourne's CBD in Yarraville.
Since Easter, locusts have stripped lawns, disrupted flights and forced the Mildura races to be moved.
Of course, farmers hate them and they do pose a considerable nuisance and danger threat to road travellers like grey nomads.
All motorists have been urged to take care, to bring spare water, an insect cleaning agent and rags so that they can easily clean their windscreen and headlights while driving in locust swarms.
Locust swarms of the density being described obviously have the potential to block the visibility of motorists.
"Drivers should pull over or slow down if their vision is impaired by swarms," said state locust director Stephen Nee. “Locust swarms can also easily block radiators and cause overheating.”
Locusts prefer warm nights flying hundreds of kilometres in favourable conditions and have a lifespan of to eight weeks, depending on conditions.
Have you run into a locust plague? Email us here to share your experiences and advice.

***

December 3

The Heat is On
With heavy rain and floods heralding the arrival of summer in central Victoria and many places on the east coast, grey nomads and other travellers could be forgiven for worrying more about staying dry than the threat of bushfires.
However, in Western Australia residents of Karnup, a suburb south of Perth, are already breathing a sigh of relief now that a fire which burned more than 530 hectares of bush has been brought under control. The blaze, which is believed to be deliberately lit, started during Perth's first November heatwave in more than 30 years and scorched large areas of the Rockingham Lakes regional park.
Summer is here then and it seems we are all going to need to be more aware than ever of the potential dangers of bushfires as we travel out into beautiful and bushfire- susceptible country.
The latest global weather data that shows that this decade will close as the hottest 10-year period on record ... and it ain’t going to get cooler any time soon. The United Nations weather agency says 2010 is "almost certain" to rank as one of the hottest three years ever while the past decade is already the warmest period since climate data began in 1850.
Being ‘bushfire aware’ then has never been more important for grey nomads. Be careful ... and stay safe.

***

December 2

Beauty Under Threat
It seems like someone somewhere needs to make a firm and final decision – or maybe they already have – on whether mining or protecting this country’s beauty spots are most important.
In recent weeks, we have reported on the plans for a gas plant at James Price point in the Kimberley, and a possible coal mine near Margaret River south of Perth.
And it seems that the debates taking place around those proposals are nothing compared to that centred on the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges.
Those wanting to mine it, say the Mt Gee uranium deposit could be worth almost $5 billion to the economy and create up to 1900 jobs. I guess that’s a powerful argument, especially in tough economic times, but others insist the environmental, geological and tourism value of Arkaroola cannot be underestimated and is a genuine gem.
Even politicians from opposite ends of the spectrum, such as Liberal Senator Nick Minchin and Greens MLC Mark Parnell are singing the same tune, insisting that mining should be banned in the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. Arkaroola incidentally – according to its website - features rugged mountains, towering granite peaks, magnificent gorges and mysterious waterholes, the home to 160 species of birds and the shy and endangered Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby.
Yup, and a report in Adelaide Now says Arkaroola's geological history and formations are among SA's jewels. It says Mt Gee is a remarkable "crystal mountain", classified as a geological monument and listed on the Register of the National Estate. Its upper crust has caves lined by quartz crystals of stunning variety and beauty.
The publication thunders :”To put it at risk for short-term gain is simply unacceptable.”
Hmmm! Is it?
In other worrying news for the Australian landscape, mineral exploration company Flinders Exploration says it hopes to begin South Australia's first systematic search for phosphorous deposits early next year.
The company's managing director, David Tucker, says it is keen to be the first in the state to look below the surface for phosphorous deposits.
He says the company wants to drill in areas near Orroroo and Tarcowie in the southern Flinders Ranges.
Mr Tucker says it is a good time to explore because it is likely the global demand for phosphate fertilisers will continue to grow and so will the price.
"We're hoping that we can start early next year and we'd be drilling rows of holes probably to about 50 metres depth and testing the rocks there," he told the ABC.
Okay, everybody. What is happening here? Does the economic boost that mining brings to an area, and to the country as a whole, justify the de-beautifying of our natural wonders? Or are some features of our magnificent landscape literally ‘priceless’? Will future generations forgive us if we spoil forever some of these remarkable regions? Or is this all just the price of progress? Oh, and would mining activity put you off visiting some of the areas mentioned? Email us here.

December 1

Here’s one for all you list lovers. Australian Geographic has just released a list of what it believes to be the top 100 Aussie icons … and there’s plenty of scope for lively debate.
Broken down into different sections, the choices should spark endless discussion, so have a look and let them – and us – know what you think of the selections.
Okay, first up under their ‘JOURNEYS’ heading is:
“The Ghan:  Named for the 'Afghan' cameleers who once moved supplies throughout the interior, The Ghan rolls from Darwin to Adelaide.
Indian Pacific: Rumble for more than 4000 km, much of it across the arid inland, from Sydney to Perth on one of the world's longest train rides.
Gibb River Road: Travellers no longer have to harness up their donkey teams to travel the Gibb River Road in the Kimberley.
Birdsville Track: Hardy drovers once pushed cattle along this 520 km stock route, but it's now a popular 4WD journey.
Canning Stock Route: The world's longest stock route (now 4WD dream destination) was created in 1906 to drive cattle from the Kimberley to the railhead at Wiluna, WA.
Crossing the Nullarbor: Do it by train, car or bicycle, but do it at least once. The Nullarbor Plain is the ultimate trans-Australia experience.”
Hmmmm! Anything missing guys?
And then, under the PLACES heading, we have:
“Uluru:  Hiding most of its mammoth bulk below ground, Uluru changes colour as the light changes; well, you'll just have to see it for yourself.
Kakadu: Half the size of Switzerland, Kakadu NP is one of the world's biggest, largely unspoiled freshwater wetlands.
Daintree Rainforest: This ancient jungle reveals Australia as it once was, before deserts claimed much of the continent.
Great Barrier Reef: Arguably the world's best-known ocean habitat, this jewel is a kaleidoscope of colour and diversity.
Twelve Apostles and the Great Ocean Road: Australians love a good road trip - and there's none better known than the Great Ocean Road, past the towering Twelve Apostles.
Mt Kosciuszko:  Australia's highest peak, at 2228 m, is at the heart of the Snowy Mountains.
Cradle Mountain: This 1545 m Tassie peak is the home of icy streams and wild beauty.
Opera House: As Big Ben is for London and Lady Liberty for the USA, the Opera House and 'the Bridge' are the harbour city's global identifiers.
Sydney Harbour  Bridge:  Sydneysiders' beloved 'coathanger'.”
And just briefly. Most of you will be pleased to hear that heading the “TIME OUT” section are:
“Boiling the Billy: What campfire would be complete without a twist of crusty damper  and a mug of billy tea?”
and:
“Damper: A simple bread baked in a camp oven covered in coals.”
Great. But I’ve got to say that I was personally devastated to see ‘Happy Hour’ fail to make an appearance here! What could be more iconic that a group of grey nomads enjoying a refreshing afternoon beverage under the awning?
Okay, have a look at the full list here if you’ve got time and let us know what you think. So, what’s there that shouldn’t be, and what are the glaring omissions? Email us here to share your thoughts.

***

November 30

The Bit Wet
It never rains but it pours!  After more than ten years of receding water levels, heavy rain has broken the banks of Lake Eppalock in central Victoria.  Water cascaded from the spillways into the Campaspe River, turning it into a raging torrent and flooding farmland and towns in its path. Rochester bore the brunt of the deluge which submerged many its streets.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that twenty-five people were evacuated overnight from the Rochester Caravan Park, about 20 kilometres south of Echuca, where the Campaspe River burst its banks.  A number of caravans and cabins were already in more than one and a half metres of water, but some permanent residents decided to stay.
Major flood warnings have been issued for the Loddon River in the state’s north-west and the Campaspe River and Sunday Creek in the north.
Even more rain is predicted for the area and residents and nomads alike have been warned that more flooding may be heading their way. Are any of you camped in the area? Have you ever been evacuated due to rising floodwaters?  Email us here to share.

November 29

Golden Opportunity
There appears to be solid support for the establishment of a new caravan park on the Tweed Coast in New South Wales, a favoured stopping point for grey nomads keen to get a more relaxed taste of Gold Coast life.
Precinct plans to develop a new holiday park at Cabarita South have just been released by the Tweed Coast Holiday Park Reserve Trust and NSW Land and Property Management Authority … and most apparently seem happy.
Cabarita Beach Newsagency and Post Office owner Brent Hayward told the Tweed Daily News  he was 100 per cent in favour of the development.
“I think it's great; it'll be great for the whole area,” Mr Hayward told the paper. “I've spoken to a lot of people and there's more people for it than against it, especially business owners … it's going to create more jobs, tourism, security for people and a lot of things for the area.”
Mr Hayward said council had the perfect parcels of land to make a profit and benefit ratepayers, and he says family-style accommodation is definitely needed.
“Tourism is not really good in this area at the moment,” he said. “Most places are over $300 a night and there's just no alternative so it's hurting local business … we need tourism to help the businesses survive in this town.”
However, the Cabarita Beach Bogangar Residents' Association has voiced its concerns regarding the development. It is unsure over the environmental protection measures and the financial viability of the business.
Last week, we talked in this column about residents - not unreasonably - being upset when travellers parked campervans outside their homes and brushed their teeth in the street.  All of you correspondents sympathised with them. So, how would you feel if a caravan park was to be built near your home? Is there a need for another caravan park on the Tweed? Email us here to share your views.

November 26

Is Nothing Sacred?
Unbelievable! Just a few weeks after we reported on the West Australian Government’s planned compulsory acquisition of idyllic James Price Point in the Kimberley to allow a massive gas plant to be built … comes news equally shocking.
It has emerged that eastern states-based company LD Operations has plans to establish an underground coalmine a mere 15 kilometres from the Margaret River townsite. That’s right! Magnificent Margaret River … just south of Perth … and world renowned for its beauty, its vineyards and its relaxed lifestyle.
Now, it’s still early days but Western Australian Mines Minister Norman Moore has already defended the Government's mining exploration policy, and rejected calls for a ban on all mining in the south-west. He says mining is the south-west's biggest industry, providing jobs and significant economic wealth, and insists that the Government's current policy is fair.
Now, we all have at least a rudimentary understanding of just how important mining has been in undperpinning the Australian economy, particularly through recent worldwide financial turmoil … but this really does beg the question … is nothing sacred?
Greens' MP Lynn MacLaren - who is calling for a blanket ban on mining in the region - ratcheted up the debate recently when she accused the minister of saying that most of the Margaret River area’s vineyards had been built on the proceeds of the mining industry.
“The Minister also said that the Hunter Valley had 'perfectly good wines and perfectly good coalmines' and said there was nothing pristine about Margaret River, adding that it used to be cow country,” said Ms MacLaren in a press release. “Mr Moore's tirade against Margaret River makes me very concerned about the future of the region … the government evidently thinks that coal mining, vineyards and tourism are a good mix."
She said that the WA Government was ignoring environmental and scientific red flags about the effect that underground coal mining would have on the Leederville aquifer, which is apparently crucial to water supply in the region.
Wow! That’s sounds serious and that sounds scary,
But Norman Moore has attacked Ms MacLaren, accusing her of whipping up hysteria over the issue of a proposed coal mine and misrepresenting the comments he made in State Parliament.
And he said the Government was actually yet to receive an application for the mine and, until it did, all speculation about the issue remain hypothetical.
"Anybody can read the parliamentary Hansard on the debate and see at no stage did I imply vineyard owners and operators were hypocrites,” he said. "In the same vein, at no stage did I launch a tirade against Margaret River … in fact the opposite is true."
He claimed that the record would show that he had made special note of the fantastic development of tourism and hospitality industry in the area and the magnificent food and wines which can be found there.
"It is also mischievous for Ms MacLaren to infer that I suggested tourism and coal mining were a good mix,” he said. “Although I mentioned the indisputable fact that both wine production and coal mining occur in the Hunter Valley region ... I also said I did not know if they co-existed well."
Mr Moore reiterated that until the submission for the coal mine is received the Government is not in a position to make a judgment as to whether it should or should not proceed.
He says the State Government will not arbitrarily remove the rights of any sector of the community, including those of mining companies to legally propose development plans.
He said if a submission was received it would undergo an extremely rigorous approvals process and there was no guarantee the company would ever succeed in proceeding to developing a working mine.
So, what do you reckon guys? Is it an abomination that a coal mine could even be vaguely considered for the Margaret River region? Or are proposed short-term economic advantages more important? Can you imagine coal mines being a successful partner to wineries and tourism? Email us here to share.

November 25

Super Spenders
Well, here’s some shock horror news. It seems that retirees with modest superannuation payouts are spending their cash on caravans, holidays and home renovations before surrendering to the mercy of the age pension.
Yup, according to a survey commissioned by the Industry Super Network (ISN), fun-seeking mature-aged folks are enjoying it while they can! Yeehhhaiii!
Apparently, with average payouts of just $24,000 - too little on which to survive long-term retirement - almost two thirds are choosing to enjoy themselves and take a ‘gap year’.
The survey of retirees from five leading superannuation funds found 50 per cent of over 55s had emptied their super accounts.
About one quarter said they had debts of more than 25 per cent of retirement savings.
"What we are seeing is that after working to build this country for 40 years, many couples want to take a well-earned trip while they still have their health, which often becomes a big part of their planning for retirement," ISN chief executive David Whiteley told the Sydney Morning Herald. "Our super system should give people the opportunity to have dignity in retirement and reward themselves with a trip around Australia."
However the research found just one in 10 households with less than $100,000 in retirement savings invested any money in pension products that would provide an ongoing income stream in retirement.
"The reality is that compulsory super [deductions] need to increase from 9 per cent to 12 per cent if we are going to deliver the expectations that Australians have of their retirement," Mr Whiteley said.
Dick and Judy Whitehead joined the happy band of grey nomads travelling the nation's roads three years ago.
"We didn't think that we could afford travel but we're glad that we could," Mr Whitehead, 69, who had spent 50 years working in the building industry, told the SMH. "I'm luckier than a lot of people who work casual or are self-employed and get bugger all when they retire ... the old age pension is a pretty sad state of affairs."
The couple, who both salary sacrificed in the run-up to retirement and still depend on a part-pension, think increasing super would make a big difference to retirement.
"Not everyone is in a position to salary sacrifice like we did - they're too busy struggling to raise a couple of kids and pay off the house," Mr Whitehead said. "Increasing super is long overdue. Everything else has moved over the years, all costs have gone up and extra money would make a big difference to people's retirements."
Views everybody? Is it time to raise the super deduction levels?  Did you have enough super when you pulled the pin? Did you decide to just blow your blatantly insufficient super and then go on to the age pension? Email us here to share your thoughts.  

***

November 24

Wear it Out
Okays guys, last wacky tent invention for a while … honest. Last week, we brought you news of the innovative but bizarre inflatable see-through bubble tent, this week we are looking at the even more mobile - and even more bizarre - wear-a-tent option.
Didn’t you just know it was those ever-so-inventive Japanese who cooked up this one. The websites that unveil news of this sort of wacky invention are not convinced.
“While it's a great 2-in-1 on paper, it's almost impossible to have your tent and wear it, particularly in a downpour,” said one mournfully. “And here's another deal-breaker- there's no base sheet to this contraption, so that's a yucky no-no for soggy grounds.”
Eek! But how do people come up with these ideas? Amazing.
So, is this really a damp squib or is there room in the grey nomads’ ready-to-rough-it kit for one of these beauties. If nothing else, is this the perfect way of finding a little bit of shade on those long, long bushwalks … you know the ones with signs that say they’ll take a couple of hours but must have been written for Usain Bolt!
And how many of you do actually take a tent of any description away with you? Does a tent provide you with the option of travelling light and wild for a while if you want to, or do you never spend a night away from your van? Email us here to share.

November 23

Cairns Heating Up
Any of you who have spent any time up in Queensland’s tropical north this year may already have realised this but, it seems, the grey nomad presence there is positively booming.
A new report reveals that tourism in the region has had its best month in a year … and it has a good idea why. The monthly barometer compiled from 102 tourism operators said Cairns airport and the self-drive, caravan and grey nomad business were the main factors.
"The self-drive/caravan/grey nomad business is up strongly this year." said the Compass Research report prepared for Tourism Tropical North Queensland. "Direct international traffic through the airport also continues to be up very strongly and this uplift is especially flowing through to hotels/resorts of more than 100 rooms and on passenger ferry trips to the Reef."
The report said there was a strong lift in bed nights with hotels and resorts up by 6 per cent, units by 9.6 per cent and caravan parks by 15.3 per cent.
"There are indications that the higher room rates achieved in July and August for hotels/resorts and units held during September,” it said. “Caravan park rates also held at about the same level as August."
So, what does it all mean? Well, at the worst of it, it means that there is a growing official recognition of the important economic benefit we bring to just about every corner of Australia. It would be nice to think that various local authorities and those in the caravan park industry would listen to our needs, hopes and aspirations just because they care about us. However, it seems that when money talks they all hear what we are saying a lot more clearly.

November 22

No Silver Bullet
There are growing fears that a caravan park at Evans Head in New South Wales could become too expensive for many grey nomads and many families to stay at.
In a situation all too familiar at many parks along the coast, refurbishment plans at the Silver Sands Holiday Park have got regular users feeling more than a little nervous.
Management plans for coastal reserves and crown land in the area have now been approved by the state government ... and the cost of future stays is the big concern.
But don’t panic, people. The State Minister for Lands, Tony Kelly, insists  that the government is committed to keeping caravan parks as a viable family holiday option.
"We want to make sure that the caravan parks on crown land survive and are enhanced so that we offer a complete range of holiday accommodation," Mr Kelly said. "We want to have cheap family and affordable family holidays whether it be by camping in a tent, by bringing a caravan, or by some small cabins."
Okay, okay. But why am I still a little suspicious?
The General Manager of the Richmond Valley Council told the ABC that the upgrading of the park will bring benefits to all users, and that powered sites would remain available to those who prefer tents or caravans to the growing numbers of cabins.
"There will be other cabins provided there but it also means that that will also help generate extra income which can be put back into facilities that are used by all caravan park users,” said Brian Wilkinson. “This will include playground equipment, other recreational facilities, camp kitchens, amenity blocks ...  so it's aimed at getting improved amenities across the board."
Hmmmmm! I can’t for the life of me think why people are suspicious that budget-conscious campers are about to be priced out of Silver Sands, can you? Anyone know of any decent free camps in the area?

November 19

Campers face Fines
Yet another local authority has announced a crackdown on illegal campers, and beefed-up security patrols and the threat of stiff fines have been introduced to stamp out the practice.
This time it’s people camping in vans on Waterson Way in Airlie Beach who are the target. Whitsunday Regional Council says staff making regular patrols of the area will now issue infringements of $200 to anybody deemed to be camping in the car parks.
Camping is defined as occupying or sleeping in the van without proof of alternative accommodation.
This is an interesting problem for local authorities who obviously don’t want widescale ‘camping’ in residential or commercial areas of town but who also don’t want to be seen to be chasing tourists away.
Clearly, the main targets here – as it was when councils did similar things in paces like Darwin – are the backpackers, but there can be no doubt that the odd budget-minded grey nomad will also be caught in the dragnet.
Whitsunday Regional Council’s Program Manager for Environment and Compliance, Scott Hardy, said that in recent months Waterson Way had become a bit of a hotspot for campers as they were given marching orders from other illegal camping areas in Airlie Beach.
“Through their network of other travellers they seem to migrate around the town,” he told the Whitsunday Times.
Local residents like Debbie Bosset told the newspaper that the problem was very noticeable and created a bad image for the Whitsundays.
“I don't want to see people cleaning their teeth and spitting in the gutter,” she said. “One of the girls I work with saw a female squatting in the gutter and urinating beside her campervan. It just doesn't look very nice, that's all.”
Yuck! Now that I can understand.
However, it seems that budget campers aren’t exactly spoilt for choice when looking for low budget accommodation in the Whitsundays.
“We would love to have a place here to park,” said Belgian tourist Delphine Biller. “It seems to be a real touristy town.”
Ahhhh! The eternal dilemma. What do you do with travellers who don’t want to shell out, what is for them, big bucks for caravan parks, but who you still want to visit your town and spend on other things.
Apparently, the Whitsunday’s Regional Council is in the process of negotiating with commercial operators about the viability of a designated area for backpackers (and grey nomads?) in campervans somewhere slightly outside Airlie Beach.
In the meantime, the council says people camping at Waterson Way and any of the sign posted no-camping zones in the Whitsundays will most certainly be fined.
You have been warned!
Okay, so has the council there got this one right? Is it unacceptable for residents to be subjected to travellers brushing their teeth and worse in the street? Is it just backpackers who behave like this or do grey nomads occasionally show a similar lack of respect? Do you occasionally pull up for a night in a residential street and, if you do, how do you keep a low profile? Email us here too share your views.

***

November 18

Camp in a Clearing
One of the great attractions of the caravanning/
motorhoming/camping lifestyle is that it enables us to get up close and personal with nature.
But it seems that some of us just can’t get close enough!
The latest somewhat bizarre development in the ongoing quest for the ultimate ‘natural’ camping experience is the transparent inflatable bubble tent.
While the goldfish bowl-like structure affords incredible panoramic views and sensational access to the night sky, some grey nomads may find the lack of privacy somewhat alarming.
French designer Pierre Stephane Dumas said his 'BubbleTree' creations are 'unusual huts for unusual nights'.
“Having a night under the stars or seeing the sun rise and set is not something that many people experience any more,” he said. “A normal tent or camper van means people miss out on these things so I designed this eccentric shelter with the aim of offering an unusual experience under the stars while keeping all the comfort of a bedroom suite.”
He said the ceiling of the bubble was effectively the Milky Way, and guests would also be able to enjoy the extraordinary light variation of the sunset and sunrise.
The 'bubbles' are designed for two adults. One design, called the CristalBubble, is completely transparent, giving a 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside.
But for the more private person, Mr Dumas has also created another, which he calls a 'cocooning' version of the Cristal design. This is completely opened to the sky but a surrounding wall means the occupants cannot be seen from the outside.
Another design, called the BubbleLodge, is more like a villa than a room and is built with an additional space that can either be used as a bathroom or smaller bedroom.
Once the 'bubble' is inflated, it's kept in shape with an airlock at the entrance and a silent pump, which keeps a constant pressure on the surrounding 'walls'.
Outside sound is kept to a minimum while inside noise is magnified, which, according to Mr Dumas, encourages the occupants to create a peaceful atmosphere by whispering.
Launched this year, the structures can be now be hired out at sites across France for around $600 or so a night.
But they are far from the traditional camping trip - decked out with wardrobes, shelves and electric lights, the bubbles look more like a movable hotel room than a regular tent.
As well as hiring the structures, they can also be bought outright for around $10,000.
Any takers out there? Do you think these bubble tents will catch on? Would they enhance your natural camping experience? Or are Aussie campers a little more privacy conscious than our Gallic counterparts? Email us here to share your thoughts?

***

November 17

Brave New Camp
It seems like the ‘grey-nomads-bring-economic-benefits-to-rural-communities’ message is really beginning to resonate … and many local authorities are responding in the right way.
The Coonamble Shire Council in inland New South Wales is a great example, and it has just unveiled plans to open a camping ground in the small community of Quambone before Christmas.
The fact that the campground which will be located on an acre of land behind the town's swimming pool and tennis courts will be ‘primitive’ shouldn’t bother all of you self-contained, budget-minded travellers. In fact, there are existing toilet facilities already in place so some of you might already elevate it to the ‘luxury’ category.
Obviously, it is hoped the new camping ground will attract more tourists to the region which lies to the north of Dubbo, and the Coonamble Shire Council has approved $15,000 to develop the site.
"It's fairly basic but with Quambone it's an entry into the Macquarie Marshes area and all that wetland so there's a lot of vehicles and a lot of people who travel through there.  They've had nowhere to camp except along the side of the roads  and it’s either that, or come back into one of the major towns like Coonamble or down to Warren," the Mayor, Tim Horan told the ABC.  "It just gives that other option available to the people that are interested in camping along that area."
And it’s much appreciated, Tim.
“It makes us a bit more attractive as far as a tourism location's concerned and Quambone and the marshes area is very nice, particularly now with the water that's come through," Councillor Horan said. "So, we're foreseeing that there's going to be a lot of tourists and particularly those in the campervans and the tents that will be coming through over the next few months."
Sound interesting? Any of you who get to check out the new camping area in the next month or two, please drop us a line to let us know what you think. And what do you think of the Coonamble area? Is it worth a few days or more?  Email us here to share.

***

November 16

Tragic Crash
The death of a prominent community and football leader in an horrific accident in the Northern Territory has delivered us yet another poignant and tragic reminder of the dangers of dirt road driving and of the hazards presented by wandering wildlife.
Matthew Wonaeamirri, the father of Melbourne Football Club footballer Austin Wonaeamirri, was killed in a crash on the Tiwi Islands near Milikapiti over the weekend.
Police spokeswoman Jasmine Featherstone said police believed the 63-year-old driver swerved to avoid a wallaby, lost control on the unsealed wet dirt road, causing the Toyota LandCruiser to roll several times. Mr Wonaeamirri was severely injured in the rollover and died at the scene.
A 26-year-old passenger suffered only minor injuries. Police investigations are continuing into the incident.
The Northern Territory road toll now stands at 43 compared to 28 for the same period last year.
Our thoughts are with the family of Mr Wonaeamirri, a former chair of the Tiwi Land Council, and his many friends.
Please be careful out there.
The Queensland Transport and Main Roads website has a page containing useful advice for people who intend to drive in the outback. Click here to have a look .

November 15

Take your Pick
As the populations of many regional towns swell with the arrival of hordes of grey nomads and backpackers for the stone fruit harvest, there is growing uncertainty over what effect new employment conditions will have.
The Federal Government slashed thousands of state and federal industrial awards to about 100 in January, and the changes affect all workers including horticulture's fruit, flower and vegetable industries.
The new Horticultural Award maintains traditional wages for pickers paid on volume, with the Fair Work Ombudsman predicting average pickers will earn at least 15 per cent more per hour than the minimum hourly rate.
It sounds good, but of course, not everybody is happy.
The ABC spoke to grower, Scott Coupland, who said there was anxiety amongst some growers.
"There are also other people there who are still quite confused about the whole system and whether they are still on the state system or whether they have moved to a federal system," he said. "Part of the principle was that no worker or no employer was going to be any worse off or disadvantaged … that is a nice wording to say, but unfortunately somebody's going to be disadvantaged somewhere."
The Fair Work Ombudsman's office says 15,000 farms have been mailed information, hundreds have been visited and 50 regional seminars held.
Fair Work inspectors have randomly audited close to 300 farms this year and more compliance checks are expected throughout harvest.
Meanwhile, the Australian Workers Union (AWU) is warning there may be a spike in horticultural complaints associated with overtime.
The Fair Work Ombudsman says the award does not provide penalty rates for casual pickers working more than 38 hours in a week.
But the AWU says it is not clear in the award, and AWU lawyer Zoie Angus is vowing to pursue underpayment in court.
"Farmers often complain about a shortage of workers in the agricultural sector," she said. "In fact the reality is that this is an incredibly low paid sector. They work long hard hours and now, arguably under the modern award, for the same flat rate.
She said the conditions were arduous and the pay rate was low and it is really those terms and conditions that need to be addressed if the farmers are serious about increasing more people into this sector.
But the Cherry Growers Association's Scott Copeland says most orchards, including his, have significantly increased staff numbers to avoid penalty rates.
He says others may be forced to down tools on the weekends and leave fruit to waste on trees.
"Talking to most growers, they are prepared to walk away from their fruit if they have to. It's cheaper for us to walk away," he said. "Now whether or not people want to exercise a flexibility clause, use things like time in lieu in the award and whether the grower wishes to sort of accept that on behalf of the workers of not, I am not sure."
On a brighter more positive note, a bumper fruit crop is predicted in many regions.
So, are you ready to pick? Where are you? Is the new system having much of an impact on you, your working conditions, and your income? Email us here to share.

November 12

Dingo Danger?
Dingoes – and the level of threat they pose to humans - are back in the news again as calls grow for the reopening of a coronial inquest into the 1980 death of Azaria Chamberlain.
The nine-week-old child famously disappeared while on a camping trip to Uluru with her family, and a Northern Territory coroner is expected  year to hold a fourth inquest into the event early next year.
Azaria’s father, Michael Chamberlain, wants the new inquiry to focus on dingoes which he believes to be predatory killers that will attack more children.
In a submission to the Northern Territory coroner's office, Dr Chamberlain and his former wife, Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, have detailed 10 serious attacks since Azaria disappeared from a camping ground at Uluru in August 1980, including two that led to deaths.
Dr Chamberlain told The Age newspaper that he has 'always worried the message about how dangerous dingoes can be has never got through'.
''If a new inquest into Azaria's death can save the life of one child, it's worth every bit of our effort, even after all this time,'' he said. “Dingoes are predatory, with killer instincts, posing a special risk to children in camping areas, where familiarity and hunger can lead to attacks.”
The Chamberlains made the submission after being advised by the NT register of Births Deaths and Marriages that Azaria's death certificate could not be changed to reflect a dingo was responsible.
Lawyers say the jailing of a then-pregnant Lindy Chamberlain for three years before she and Michael Chamberlain were exonerated by a royal commission and a hearing of the NT Court of Criminal Appeal was one of the worst miscarriages of justice in Australian legal history. Dr Chamberlain lashed out at the 1995 findings of a third inquest on Azaria's disappearance by then NT Coroner John Lowndes, describing his open finding as ''unsubstantiated and unsafe''.
While Mr Lowndes had found the Chamberlains were innocent of any involvement in the death of their daughter, he also said it was unlikely a dingo would take and kill a child.
''It seems that Coroner Lowndes was either not aware of or in a position to understand the danger posed by the dingo,'' Dr Chamberlain said. ''He adopted the trial prosecution spin that 'everyone knows the dingo story is preposterous - dingoes don't kill babies'.''
Dr Chamberlain believes a new inquest is the only way to set the record straight about Azaria's death and to bring finality to the family.
I suppose the great dingo threat debate is one which will never be really settled but it’s still one worth having. So, do you feel threatened by them? Have you noticed greater or less dingo activity around your camping spots? Does their howl still send a shiver up your spine. Have you seen fellow campers feeding them? Email us here to share your thoughts.

November 11

Until Further Notice
You can certainly cross the popular Jimmys Beach Caravan Park at Hawks Nest off your Christmas hideaway list … it’s out of action for the foreseeable future.
Management has been forced to cancel hundreds of bookings, leaving many local business owners wondering how it will affect them, as the busiest period of the year looms closer.
It’s certainly been a tumultuous year for the park. Back in January, Great Lakes Council announced it would take over the running of it after more than 30 years, bringing with it plans for significant upgrades and a cutback to the number of holiday van sites.
Months later an inspection from Country Energy saw the park served with a defect notice and council announced it would be closed until further notice, effectively cancelling all bookings. It has now been revealed that the State Government will take over Jimmys, along with five other Great Lakes caravan parks early next year.
Administration Services Manager, John Dougherty, told the Myall Coast Nota newspaper that the council was working in conjunction with the Land and Property Management Authority (LPMA) to open sections of the park as soon as possible, but an actual timeframe or date was yet to be set.
Work is yet to start on getting the park up to scratch with electricity, sewage and water services to be replaced.
Mr Dougherty said the cost of the upgrade is unknown.
“We want to open up again as quickly as possible, but we don’t want to see money thrown away,” he said.
The closure has left Hawks Nest business owners, like Hugo Elsterman from Hawks Nest Newsagency and Post Office, counting the cost of the missing visitors.
He wants to know why the park was allowed to be left in such a dilapidated state for so long, questioning the processes council has in place for maintaining its assets.
“I’m sure I speak for all businesses in Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens for the matter,” he said. “There is going to be an impact felt from the temporary closure of the park. It’s damaging to the Hawks Nest brand and that’s going to take a while to recover.”
Mr Elsterman said whether it was council or the LPMA, somebody had to set a timeline for the reopening, for the sake of both local businesses and holiday makers.
And so say all of us!

November 10
A Plane to Catch?
The strength of the Aussie dollar is certainly giving some of those involved in the tourism industry a few sleepless nights.
As well as deterring overseas travellers from making the Trip DownUnder, there is also the chance that many would-be domestic travellers, such as the grey nomads, will be lured overseas by theprospect of much improved spending power.
Certainly, there are major concerns in Tasmania. Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Daniel Hanna said people in Melbourne and Sydney had never had so many value choices with some "amazing" flight deals and good offshore holiday packages including the closer destinations of Fiji, Bali and Thailand.
Of course,  when tourists from Victoria and New South Wales – who together make up two thirds of visitors to Tasmania – head overseas in numbers, the effect is huge.
"Tasmania is still a desirable destination, people want to come here but when there is such great value elsewhere it certainly doesn't help," Mr Hanna said. "It's a double pressure because it is harder to attract people to Australia."
Mr Hanna told the Mercury newspaper that one of the few bright spots was the opening of the MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) at Moorilla in January when the council expected accommodation around Hobart to be tight.
While national and global influences seemed to be conspiring against Tasmanian tourism, working for the state were new products and experiences like MONA "which will create a bit of buzz and excitement again".
Mr Hanna said it was assumed MONA would be "pretty phenomenal" but sometimes national attention could cascade through further offshore from Australia.
He is certainly hoping so.
So, is the strong Aussie dollar tempting you to park the rig for a few weeks/months and head overseas on that trip you thought you might never be able to afford? If so, where are you going to … Bali, California, London? Or is there no place like this Great Southern Land no matter how favourable the exchange rate? Email us here to share your thoughts.  

***

Green light for Col?

A few weeks ago we reported on the West Australian Government’s moves to compulsorily acquire a site at idyllic James Price Point in the Kimberley so a giant gas hub can be built.
It’s fair to say that the plan angered many conservationists, indigenous leaders and grey nomads but - in what may be seen as a cynical attempt to appease environmentalists - WA Premier Colin Barnett has now declared marine and wilderness parks over 3.5 million hectares of the region. He described the creation of four marine and wilderness parks, a national park and conservation reserves as one of the most significant environmental initiatives in the state's history, almost trebling the area of marine parks and reserves.
While many think more could still be done, it will mean – among other things – better facilities for grey nomads venturing along the iconic and truly spectacular Gibb River Road.
While Mr Barnett acknowledges the announcement will be viewed against the backdrop of the battle for James Price Point, he insists science, not politics, is behind the decision.
Labor leader Eric Ripper sees it differently. He said it was disappointing that only 13 per cent of the Camden Sound Marine Park would be fully protected, compared with 34 per cent of the park at Ningaloo.
"This is an all-too obvious attempt to balance the political ledger for the compulsory acquisition of James Price Point," he told the Australian newspaper.
Environs Kimberley director Martin Pritchard is equally unimpressed.
"We were hoping that this wasn't going to be a token announcement,” he said. “But at the moment it looks like it's an attempt to greenwash the proposed gas plant in the Kimberley and it's looking like a failed attempt at that."
Mr Barnett dismisses those claims.
"I know people might ask that question and I understand that, but these decisions on these marine and national parks are not in any way related to the proposed LNG precinct and James Price Point," he said.
Hmmmm!
Anyway, the plan itself.  Four new marine parks covering  26,000 sq. km of ocean near Eighty Mile Beach, Roebuck Bay, the north Kimberley coast and a whale-birthing haven at Camden Sound, have been created,
As already mentioned, most environmental groups are still not all that impressed, describing the  new marine parks as a farce. They say only two sanctuary zones have been created within the marine parks, offering little real protection.
"From what has been proposed, 98 percent of the Kimberley marine environment would be open to mining, oil and gas, fishing and other activities," said Paul Gamblin, WWF-Australia's WA director.
But there is good news. The State Government's land-based parks have actually been welcomed by WWF.
"It's the government thinking at scale, and perhaps testing the water to see if there is strong community support for Kimberley conservation," said Mr Gamblin. "We clearly think there is."
The land-based initiatives include the new Prince Regent National Park, a 634,000 hectare biodiversity hotspot in the rugged northwest where half the Kimberley's plant species are found.
Work will also begin on creating a 200-kilometre long conservation corridor to connect Prince Regent National Park with another remote haven for rare species, Drysdale River National Park, which is accessible only to bushwalkers.
The Government's Kimberley conservation package includes a $2.7 million investment in nature-based tourism for travellers along the popular Gibb River Road, with better visitor facilities planned for Geikie Gorge, Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge national parks.
So, is this good news? Does this announcement let the Barnett government off the hook for pushing to put the $30 billion Woodside gas plant in an irreplaceable paradise? Is the government just trying to do its best by the environment while working within the economic realities of the times? Email your views here. Oh, and are better facilities desirable along the Gibb River Road, or do you prefer your adventures rough and rugged?  

***

Back to School?

It’s been talked about many times before but there are new, and passionate, calls for state governments to introduce special licence requirements for motorists towing caravans.
It’s an interesting one. Certainly, there are special skills required to tow a caravan but do they require an extra course and possibly an extra test?
Well, a motion calling for exactly that has been passed at the North Queensland Local Government Association conference in Port Douglas.
It was put forward by the Cook Shire Council, whose mayor, Peter Scott, says the high Australian dollar and the increasing number of grey nomads will lead to more caravans on the roads.
"We've got concerns that people who pull caravans along, some of these are pretty big vehicles too, don't have the necessary training or the necessary experience I guess to get out on the road and it does cause problems," he said. "This particular motion was brought about by a car full of my councillors having a near miss incident driving between Mackay and Cairns earlier this year.”
He said that the Cook Shire was seeing more and more caravans coming in all the time and, in a lot of cases, they were off-road caravans.
"You add the impost of towing a heavy van, plus a gravel road, plus dust,” he said. “And there needs to be training, there needs to be awareness made for people to avoid accidents."
Hmmmm!
Far north Queensland driving instructor Peter Rogenkamp told the ABC that many people were surprised about the skill and technique needed to manoeuvre a caravan safely on the road.
"Many, many fatal and serious road crashes are as a result of drivers losing control when towing caravans," he said. "They are a completely different ball game when you've got some 5,000 kilogram caravan behind your vehicle."
Okay, guys. What do you think? Are they right or is towing a caravan a skill that experienced motorists should be able to master on their own and quickly? Would it be better to have these caravan towing courses imposed only on those with a limited number of years’ driving experience? Is this just another potential government revenue raiser or is this a serious attempt at improving safety on our roads? How did you find towing a van for the first time? Did you feel ready? Would a mandatory course have helped you, and perhaps saved you a few hairy moments? Email us here to tell us what you think.    

***

Wildlife We Loathe

We’ve had a few stories here recently about annoying – and downright dangerous  – animal encounters. Of course, interaction with wildlife is very much an unavaoidable and largely enjoyable part of the grey nomad lifestyle … but what about the times when it’s not.
The Sydney Morning Herald recently carried a humorous article about eight of the world's most annoying animal encounters.
It picked out Vervet monkeys in South Africa (food thieves), Kea parrots in New Zealand (overly inquisitive door seal nibblers), Kangaroos in Australia (food thieves), flies anywhere (obvious reasons), Grizzly bears in North America (obvious reasons),  Magpies in Australia (swooping nightmares), Monkeys in India (aggressive thieves), and Pigeons anywhere (undeservedly popular).
So, what are the most annoying animal encounters for grey nomads … and why? Email us your thoughts and we’ll publish a definitive “Grey Nomads’ Wildlife Nightmares” list next week. Remember to include your reasons.
So, if you’re sick of any creature … whether it be barramundi for luring your spouse away from you for days at a time, or rogue koalas for raiding your esky …  we want to know about it.  Email us here.

***

Trapped by Floods

It’s been a wet old year so far, and heading bush after heavy rain can present real dangers.
Just ask the eight men who are still trapped by floodwaters after a weekend away in Victoria's northeast went wrong.
Helen Beggs told the Herald Sun newspaper that her son and seven friends went camping near Dargo on Friday but a weekend deluge has left them trapped at their camping site on Crooked River Rd.
The group, from Warragul, have run out of food and police may have to organise a food drop by helicopter if waters don't recede today.
"They can't get home because the river is still flooded,'' Ms Beggs told the newspaper. "They just can't get through because it's too deep so they just have to wait till it goes down.''
Police plan to assess the river depth today before making a decision about what to do next.
"They cooked their last meal so they've run out of food now,” Ms Beggs said. “If it doesn't go down enough by morning, they'll have to do a food drop,''
A police spokesman confirmed the campers were still waiting for floodwaters to go down.
While it certainly wouldn’t be nice being cut off by floodwaters …   it sounds like it could have been a lot worse!
Have you ever been cut off by flash flooding? How nervous are you when camping near ‘dry’ creek beds? Email us here to share.

***

They Love us ... They Love Us Not

The great ‘do grey nomads spend enough money in rural communities?’ debate is continuing to pick up pace.
In yesterday’s Nomad we reported that Associate Professor Noel Scott from the University of Queensland (Boo! Hiss!) was quite damning of the benefits we bring, saying most of our meagre budget was just spent on fuel (aren’t we naughty?). And he predicts that with the increasing affordability of overseas travel, grey nomad numbers could decline and our impact on local economies be reduced even further.
Hmmmm!
Happily though, others are a little more appreciative. The Managing Director of Tourism Australia, Andrew McEvoy, weighed into the debate by describing older travellers as the life blood of regional tourism.
“Grey nomads are a big part of the success of Australian tourism domestically at the moment,” he told ABC radio. “They're the people who are travelling, seeing their own backyard, seeing their country and really enjoying it.”
Hooray for us!
And Daniel Gschwind from the Queensland Tourism Industry Council agrees.
“We have a growing number of older Australians who are quite well off, quite healthy and quite adventurous,” he said.  “And a combination of those factors will definitely see very large numbers of people wanting to explore their country, perhaps doing what they neglected or were not able to do during their working life.”
Spot on, Daniel.
While Mr Gschwind does agree that older travellers aren't necessarily the biggest spenders in the tourism world, he is adamant that our contribution is still highly valuable.
“They still spend money and they still have needs to be serviced through local service providers,” he said. “And that is making a contribution to the local economy.”
Of course, it is!
And is the future of the grey nomad lifestyle really as bleak as Professor Scott would have us believe? Well, the Australian Bureau of Statistics says the population in Australia will continue to age and predicts that over 55s will increase by 4 per cent every year for a while yet.
“I think that the ageing population means grey nomads are here to stay,” said Tourism Australia’s Andrew McEvoy. “And they love our country and they're travelling well and I think they've got a great future.”
And ain’t that the truth?

***

Hey, Big Spenders!

The ongoing debate about how much grey nomads actually contribute to rural economies as they criss-cross the country is …. well … ongoing!
University of Queensland School of Tourism associate professor Noel Scott says self-contained travellers spend less than a normal tourist on accommodation and food.
"If you spend $3000 to $5000 on a three-month trip, it doesn't mean that you spend a lot of money in each small town," Dr Scott said. "It's not the same as an international or domestic visitor on the Gold Coast."
Ah, yes! But every little bit certainly helps, Dr Scott.
Grey nomad numbers are up across Queensland and their weekly spend in the bush has been calculated at $386 per vehicle, but some are still not all that impressed.
"I can see where they're coming from when they say these people generate revenue, spend so much money per head on travelling, but what it's spent on is the reality and most of the time that's fuel," publican Paul Collins, from McKinlay's Walkabout Creek Hotel some 120km southeast of Cloncurry, told the Brisbane Courier-Mail. "They'll go and buy (food and alcohol) somewhere where they get a good deal and cart that around with them.”
He said while some travellers look for free camps as they wait for pension cheques, others are more prepared to spend time and money in small places.
"Last night there were 15 fishermen in my caravan park, all wanted meals, all got on the drink,” he said. “Or I can have 15 caravans out there and they're all tucked up in bed by 7 o'clock and all I've got out of them is the camp fee."
Collins said most travellers were welcome but he knows fuel and camping fees can take $150 out of a daily budget.
Over at the Eulo store, 80km west of Cunnamulla, owner Gary Berghofer is more appreciative of grey nomads although he reckons ‘the bigger and flasher the set-up’, the less money travellers spend.
"But I tell you what, there's not much left out here without them ... they still need fuel, they still buy a cup of coffee, a bit of this and that,” he told the Courier-Mail. “We don't knock them at all, they're a big advantage to this country."
Thanks, Gary. I’ll certainly stop to buy a coffee next time I’m passing through.

***

Dangerous Beauty

The tragic death of a 63-year-old German man in Kakadu National Park should serve as yet another reminder to us all of the need to prepare properly for all Outback adventures.
The tourist was alone on the popular 12-kilometre Barrk Sandstone Walk near the iconic Nourlangie Rock when he perished.  Media reports say he was ill-prepared and had no water, despite the harsh conditions and soaring heat.
When he didn't arrive home late in the day his wife raised the alarm.
A land and air search, involving the Territory Response Group, Jabiru police, fire and rescue officers and local rangers immediately got underway. The tourist's body was eventually found three kilometres from a car park off the walking track. A report is being prepared for the coroner. It is suspected dehydration played a part in the man's death.
The couple, from Luckenwalde south of Berlin, arrived in Darwin on October 27. They had hired a van and were just beginning their Aussie camping adventure when tragedy struck. The man’s distraught wife is now being looked after by the German consul in Darwin.
Police have warned tourists visiting the national park to remain hydrated, carry sufficient water, and wear appropriate hats and clothing to suit the conditions.
Duty superintendent Rob Burgoyne urged visitors to plan walks and sight-seeing in advance.
"If you become lost or dehydrated don't panic, find a shady area, sit down, relax and wait for the cooler period of the day before continuing your walk," Mr Burgoyne said. "Always try to be with a partner or in a group, so if you experience any problems someone can raise the alarm."

***

Generation 'Softies'

It’s a bit of a sad indictment on our lazy ways when the humble tenting trip is under threat because time-poor Australians don’t want to spend their valuable relaxation hours putting them up!
Yup, tourism bigwigs from around the world have spent this week at the Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism conference in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, and high on the agenda was the reported demise of the traditional camping holiday.
 “I think what we've seen over the years is a societal change and the traditional camping holiday has passed its use-by date to a large extent,” said the conference convenor, Tony Charters. “I think there's a real need to reinvent the camping experience.”
Hey! How can you re-invent that oneness with nature, that raw experience, that sense of adventure?
Well, how about pre-erected tents in our national parks with fridges, bedding and lighting!
 “With this concept when they get to the national park they are allocated a safari tent with a fridge, bedding and lighting,” said Mr Charters. “It makes it much more straightforward and comfortable and much more realistic in terms of what people's capabilities are ... it doesn't have to be dirt cheap but it would usually be cheaper than hotels or motels.”
He says that even the food could be supplied, or people could still choose to take their own, and that the pre-erected tents could range from budget to luxury.
Could this be the end of the great Aussie adventurous spirit? Are we really going so soft that putting up a tent is too much hard work? Will we see a generation of children grow up without ever having mastered the wonderful, frustrating and ultimately satisfying skill of erecting a tent?
Well, Tourism Forecasting Committee chairman Bernard Salt certainly believes that camping has evolved to become a more luxury experience for people who have a deep appreciation of nature.
“It used to be a notch below caravanning whereas now we have a genuine, well-to-do middle class that's looking for an environmental experience and camping as a consequence needs to redefine,” he told The Australian newspaper..
The idea of pre-erected tents is already being trialled in a few locations throughout Australia. The award-winning Lane Cove River Tourist Park in Sydney is introducing a new luxury pre-erected tent, which will be available for bookings from December.
Gulp!
Has anyone got any ideas on how we can make the grey nomad experience any easier? Perhaps we should all hire chauffeurs so we don’t have to drive any more? Or maybe all van parks and camping areas should supply chefs so we don’t have to cook? Or maybe part of the service supplied by van parks is that they should fold out our awnings and put our campchairs outside the van for us?
But then again, maybe some people kind of like doing that stuff! Are you one of them? Are we really getting too lazy or too busy to go camping? Email us here.

***

On the Right Track?

I guess it was only a matter of time before the campaign kicked off in earnest to turn the historic Birdsville track into a sealed road.
Following a series of floods this year that closed the track to traffic and brought an ancient punt into operation, Queensland LNP MP Bruce Scott has been drumming up support for the plan.
He has been in talks with Federal Regions Minister Simon Crean over the past few weeks, and says the idea has massive industry and tourism potential.
Mr Scott is confident the road will be paved from Mount Isa to Birdsville within five years, and wants a paved road all the way to Adelaide.
However, local media reports that a bureaucratic black hole lies in South Australia - the historic route of the original Birdsville track which starts at Marree and runs near Australia's largest on-shore gas fields.
"A large section of the road in SA doesn't fall under any local government jurisdiction, so there is a problem there about who would be responsible for it," Mr Scott said.
"But we are looking at getting direct federal funding."
Locals who now wait more than a month for supplies to arrive because of flooding at Coopers Creek are reportedly keen to have better roads, and say sealing the Birdsville Track would double the number of tourists using the road.
Brian Hanna, who runs the Birdsville Hotel, is a fan but says the only negative might be making the outback easily accessible to big numbers of visitors.
"Years like this year and the lack of funding from the South Australian side on road maintenance, it would be better to have the bitumen road," he said. "The only negative would be that the tourism would lose the challenge, the adventure."
What do you reckon? Is it time to say farewell to one of the Big Lap’s iconic adventures? Or is the price of progress – in this case the mystique and legend of the track – too high of a price to pay? Email your thoughts here.  

***

Too much luxury?

The backlash against the New South Wales state government’s moves to revamp many council-run van parks along the coast has begun in earnest.
You may remember we reported earlier this month on the takeover by the Land and Property Management Authority of a number of popular parks. These now include those at Forster, Tuncurry, Hawks Nest, Seal Rocks and Jimmys Beach in the Great Lakes shire. Earlier this year, Ballina Central, Lake Ainsworth and Shaws Bay parks on the north coast were handed over.
As the push gathers momentum however there are increasing fears that it will not be good news for budget-conscious holidaymakers ... or grey nomads!
''There's concern among councils that some of these caravan parks are being resumed for development,” said Alan Stokes, the executive director of the National Sea Change Taskforce, which represents 68 coastal councils. “It's not just here in NSW, it's happening in other states as well,''
Mr Stokes believes the State Government is trying to use caravan parks to boost revenue and, in turn, is eradicating the parks as an option for affordable housing and cheap stays.
“We would like to see State Government policy reversed and the role of traditional caravan parks recognised and acknowledged,” he told the Northern Star newspaper in Lismore. “We plan to approach the Government, the Opposition, the Greens and as many independents as we can engage with.”
An example of what is going on can be found at Brunswick Heads. Earlier this year, the NSW Land and Property Management Authority (LPMA) released draft Plans of Management for parks in the area that detailed an increase in upmarket cabin facilities.
Byron Shire mayor Jan Barham said the plans for Brunswick Heads showed the Government was ‘acting like a developer’.
“I think the recent program of development by the LPMA is not well supported by communities in coastal NSW and presents a loss in terms of the Government’s role in protecting public access to coastal areas,” she said.
The convener of the Brunswick Heads Foreshore Protection Group convener, Michele Grant, agrees.
 ''It's just a massive increase in the accommodation that will challenge the locals,'' she told the Sydney Morning Herald. ''It's also going for the upmarket accommodation because they're incredibly expensive.''
In 2007 the government spent $3.5 million refurbishing Byron Bay's beachfront Clarkes Beach Caravan Park. Fourteen cabins which have air-conditioning and wireless internet were added. These can now be rented for up to $1610 a week.
How much?
For its part the LPMA says it is just responding to tourist demands for improved services.
''The travelling public is wanting better amenities and some councils have told LPMA that meeting this demand is beyond their expertise,'' a spokesman said.
Did somebody say $1610 a week! Okay. I guess there must be people out there willing to pay that sort of cash for a luxury cabin ... but where are budget-conscious families and grey nomads supposed to go once they’ve turned our parks into upmarket playgrounds for the wealthy?

***

Ten's a Crowd

I guess the longer you travel the more crazy things you see happen on the road … but this one will probably take some beating.
Over in the UK, a man has been banned from driving for two years after he was caught towing a caravan with three women and seven children inside it!.
The 46-year-old drove the 10.5ft x 6ft (3m x 1.8m) caravan for about 160 kilometres from his home in Stoke-on-Trent for a picnic in Wales.
Sameer Mirzar was stopped after other drivers saw the caravan curtains moving and reported it. The children inside were aged between five and 14.
"It was totally irresponsible behaviour and could have had disastrous consequences, Sergeant Ifan Jones told a court in Caernarfon, Wales.  "The consequences of this caravan overturning or being involved in a collision are unimaginable. It was risking the lives of innocent people unnecessarily."
Airline worker Mirzar, who is originally from Saudi Arabia, pleaded ignorance of the law and highway code, adding that he would never put his family in a dangerous position.
However, he did admit dangerous driving. As well as being banned from driving for two years and having to retake his test, magistrates fined him £900 with £215 costs.
So, what’s the craziest thing you have seen other motorists do? Have you seen passengers in the back of caravans? Email us here to share your tales.

***

Nomad Boom Time

As people begin to believe that the worst of the global financial crisis is behind us, they are flocking to the grey nomad lifestyle like never before.
Indeed, the number of recreational vehicles built in Australia is expected to reach 24,000 in 2010 ... at least 5000 more than in any other year. Wow! As recently as the mid-1990’s annual sales of recreational vehicles in this country was a relatively paltry 5000.
The president of the Recreational Vehicle Manufacturers Association of Australia, Richard Raven, said that about 10 per cent of these are motorised, with the rest made up of caravans and camper-trailers.
''In the last two months we've had a huge increase in the number of buyers and inquiries,” a director of the Sydney RV Centre, Jeremy Pearce, told the Sydney Morning Herald. “Sales are up 100 per cent on the same month last year.''
While easing fears over financial meltdown may explain part of the growing popularity of the grey nomad lifestyle, I’d like to think that the positive experiences reported by those already out there has also played a part.
Mr Pearce said there is currently a waiting period of nearly six months for some popular motorhome models and demand is expected to remain similarly high as more baby boomers retire.
Of course as numbers increase so to will the demand to see sufficient infrastructure in place to cope with the extra travellers.
Australia has about 2500 caravan parks, with more than 200,000 sites.
Nonetheless, the general manager of Albury City Council, Les Tomich, is not alone in saying that many councils are not prepared for the expected surge in the number of motorhome tourists, and he says they need to install more basic sites where motorhome owners can dump waste and use power and water.
And that, of course, is not what the caravan park industry wants to see. The chief executive of the Caravan, RV and Accommodation Industry of Australia, Ben Yates, has warned that new rest areas would represent unfair competition if they do not comply with all of the regulations that apply to caravan parks.
Interesting times ahead.
Have any of you delayed your grey nomad debut due to global financial crisis fears? What persuaded you to take the plunge? Email us here to share your experiences.

***

Killers can be cute

Not so long ago we reported in the Nomad about the dangers of overseas camping and, in particular, the threats posed by rampaging Grizzly bears. Of course, we could have also mentioned charging moose, cunning cougars and deadly rattle snakes  … but mountain goats!
Well you can most definitely add them to the ‘keep your distance’ list following a fatal attack in the US. Authorities have since tracked down and killed the goat that gored a hiker to death in Olympic National Park near Seattle.
Apparently, there had been reports from other hikers that the animal had been trailing them and would not back away when approached.
Rangers had erected warning signs, telling visitors to stay at least 100 feet from any animals, including the goats. There are also signs and warnings from rangers that hikers should not urinate near trails since goats are attracted to the salt.
Robert Boardman, 63, had been hiking with his wife and a friend and had stopped for lunch when the goat approached them and began acting aggressive. The man told his companions to leave while he attempted to distract the animal. When Mr Boardman’s wife and friend heard him yell they ran back and found the goat standing over him as he lay motionless on the ground. Other hikers managed to scare the goat away by hurling rocks and waving blankets at it. The attacked man died later in hospital.
Scary stuff. And I guess the moral of the story is that all wild animals should be treated with extreme caution, even the cuty and cuddly looking ones. We all know to be wary of snakes, crocs and dingoes … but what are the less big name scaries out there? Has anyone come across an aggressive koala, or been stalked by a hungry platypus? Email us here to share your unusual wildlife encounters.  

***

Knight this Genius?

Aha! Finally a caravan park initiative that should meet with universal grey nomad approval. In what the Sydney Daily Telegraph is reporting to be a cheeky bid to pinch tourists from the nearby Blue Mountains, the historic western Sydney town of Richmond is offering three free nights at a new caravan park for any tourists with a van or motorhome.
Grey nomads and others are being invited to use the park's facilities and enjoy the breathtaking mountain views - all without having to pay a cent.
I like the way these guys are thinking!
The local RSL, the Richmond Club, has apparently spent $250,000 to lure tourists back to the town, with the free Wanderest caravan park promotion seen as a way of bringing more tourists - and their dollars - into the community's shops, galleries, pubs and clubs.
"Richmond is a hidden secret and a lot of locals want to keep it hidden but for economic prosperity we have to reveal it," Richmond Club CEO, Kimberley Talbot told the Daily Telegraph.  "With the Wanderest project, we wanted more people having the opportunity to experience what the area has to offer. It is truly God's land."
Ms Talbot said the initial concept of a free camp was suggested more than two years ago, after the club chairman travelled Australia staying in caravan parks.
"A well-developed plan for tourism can bring many benefits to a community,” she said. “If you have vacant land, a caravan park is easy to set up and clubs can bring economical sustainability to their local areas."
Yes, yes, yes!
The park features toilets, showers, powered and non-powered sites, a dump point, picnic tables,  open grassed areas and ... a clear view of the Blue Mountains.
All sounds good to me. I, for one, am hoping that Richmond’s cunning plan to revive its popularity of the 1800s is a success.
Attractions include the gravity-defying Magnetic Hill, where you can apparently park your car, put it in neutral and watch it climb up the hill! Or you can see one of the nation's oldest racetracks, or the RAAF base, or try fishing on the Hawkesbury or a walking tour past a string of stately mansions. Or, I guess you could just hang out, do your laundry and be nice to all the park management ... we want this free caravan park concept to catch on!
So, will the prospect of three free nights lure you to Richmond? Do you think the genius who cooked up the plan should be knighted? ... and is Magnetic Hill as amazing as it sounds? Email us here to share.

***

Dangerous Beauty

The tragic death of a 63-year-old German man in Kakadu National Park should serve as yet another reminder to us all of the need to prepare properly for all Outback adventures.
The tourist was alone on the popular 12-kilometre Barrk Sandstone Walk near the iconic Nourlangie Rock when he perished.  Media reports say he was ill-prepared and had no water, despite the harsh conditions and soaring heat.
When he didn't arrive home late in the day his wife raised the alarm.
A land and air search, involving the Territory Response Group, Jabiru police, fire and rescue officers and local rangers immediately got underway. The tourist's body was eventually found three kilometres from a car park off the walking track. A report is being prepared for the coroner. It is suspected dehydration played a part in the man's death.
The couple, from Luckenwalde south of Berlin, arrived in Darwin on October 27. They had hired a van and were just beginning their Aussie camping adventure when tragedy struck. The man’s distraught wife is now being looked after by the German consul in Darwin.
Police have warned tourists visiting the national park to remain hydrated, carry sufficient water, and wear appropriate hats and clothing to suit the conditions.
Duty superintendent Rob Burgoyne urged visitors to plan walks and sight-seeing in advance.
"If you become lost or dehydrated don't panic, find a shady area, sit down, relax and wait for the cooler period of the day before continuing your walk," Mr Burgoyne said. "Always try to be with a partner or in a group, so if you experience any problems someone can raise the alarm."

***

Generation 'Softies'

It’s a bit of a sad indictment on our lazy ways when the humble tenting trip is under threat because time-poor Australians don’t want to spend their valuable relaxation hours putting them up!
Yup, tourism bigwigs from around the world have spent this week at the Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism conference in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, and high on the agenda was the reported demise of the traditional camping holiday.
 “I think what we've seen over the years is a societal change and the traditional camping holiday has passed its use-by date to a large extent,” said the conference convenor, Tony Charters. “I think there's a real need to reinvent the camping experience.”
Hey! How can you re-invent that oneness with nature, that raw experience, that sense of adventure?
Well, how about pre-erected tents in our national parks with fridges, bedding and lighting!
 “With this concept when they get to the national park they are allocated a safari tent with a fridge, bedding and lighting,” said Mr Charters. “It makes it much more straightforward and comfortable and much more realistic in terms of what people's capabilities are ... it doesn't have to be dirt cheap but it would usually be cheaper than hotels or motels.”
He says that even the food could be supplied, or people could still choose to take their own, and that the pre-erected tents could range from budget to luxury.
Could this be the end of the great Aussie adventurous spirit? Are we really going so soft that putting up a tent is too much hard work? Will we see a generation of children grow up without ever having mastered the wonderful, frustrating and ultimately satisfying skill of erecting a tent?
Well, Tourism Forecasting Committee chairman Bernard Salt certainly believes that camping has evolved to become a more luxury experience for people who have a deep appreciation of nature.
“It used to be a notch below caravanning whereas now we have a genuine, well-to-do middle class that's looking for an environmental experience and camping as a consequence needs to redefine,” he told The Australian newspaper..
The idea of pre-erected tents is already being trialled in a few locations throughout Australia. The award-winning Lane Cove River Tourist Park in Sydney is introducing a new luxury pre-erected tent, which will be available for bookings from December.
Gulp!
Has anyone got any ideas on how we can make the grey nomad experience any easier? Perhaps we should all hire chauffeurs so we don’t have to drive any more? Or maybe all van parks and camping areas should supply chefs so we don’t have to cook? Or maybe part of the service supplied by van parks is that they should fold out our awnings and put our campchairs outside the van for us?
But then again, maybe some people kind of like doing that stuff! Are you one of them? Are we really getting too lazy or too busy to go camping? Email us here.

***

On the Right Track?

I guess it was only a matter of time before the campaign kicked off in earnest to turn the historic Birdsville track into a sealed road.
Following a series of floods this year that closed the track to traffic and brought an ancient punt into operation, Queensland LNP MP Bruce Scott has been drumming up support for the plan.
He has been in talks with Federal Regions Minister Simon Crean over the past few weeks, and says the idea has massive industry and tourism potential.
Mr Scott is confident the road will be paved from Mount Isa to Birdsville within five years, and wants a paved road all the way to Adelaide.
However, local media reports that a bureaucratic black hole lies in South Australia - the historic route of the original Birdsville track which starts at Marree and runs near Australia's largest on-shore gas fields.
"A large section of the road in SA doesn't fall under any local government jurisdiction, so there is a problem there about who would be responsible for it," Mr Scott said.
"But we are looking at getting direct federal funding."
Locals who now wait more than a month for supplies to arrive because of flooding at Coopers Creek are reportedly keen to have better roads, and say sealing the Birdsville Track would double the number of tourists using the road.
Brian Hanna, who runs the Birdsville Hotel, is a fan but says the only negative might be making the outback easily accessible to big numbers of visitors.
"Years like this year and the lack of funding from the South Australian side on road maintenance, it would be better to have the bitumen road," he said. "The only negative would be that the tourism would lose the challenge, the adventure."
What do you reckon? Is it time to say farewell to one of the Big Lap’s iconic adventures? Or is the price of progress – in this case the mystique and legend of the track – too high of a price to pay? Email your thoughts here.  

***

Too much luxury?

The backlash against the New South Wales state government’s moves to revamp many council-run van parks along the coast has begun in earnest.
You may remember we reported earlier this month on the takeover by the Land and Property Management Authority of a number of popular parks. These now include those at Forster, Tuncurry, Hawks Nest, Seal Rocks and Jimmys Beach in the Great Lakes shire. Earlier this year, Ballina Central, Lake Ainsworth and Shaws Bay parks on the north coast were handed over.
As the push gathers momentum however there are increasing fears that it will not be good news for budget-conscious holidaymakers ... or grey nomads!
''There's concern among councils that some of these caravan parks are being resumed for development,” said Alan Stokes, the executive director of the National Sea Change Taskforce, which represents 68 coastal councils. “It's not just here in NSW, it's happening in other states as well,''
Mr Stokes believes the State Government is trying to use caravan parks to boost revenue and, in turn, is eradicating the parks as an option for affordable housing and cheap stays.
“We would like to see State Government policy reversed and the role of traditional caravan parks recognised and acknowledged,” he told the Northern Star newspaper in Lismore. “We plan to approach the Government, the Opposition, the Greens and as many independents as we can engage with.”
An example of what is going on can be found at Brunswick Heads. Earlier this year, the NSW Land and Property Management Authority (LPMA) released draft Plans of Management for parks in the area that detailed an increase in upmarket cabin facilities.
Byron Shire mayor Jan Barham said the plans for Brunswick Heads showed the Government was ‘acting like a developer’.
“I think the recent program of development by the LPMA is not well supported by communities in coastal NSW and presents a loss in terms of the Government’s role in protecting public access to coastal areas,” she said.
The convener of the Brunswick Heads Foreshore Protection Group convener, Michele Grant, agrees.
 ''It's just a massive increase in the accommodation that will challenge the locals,'' she told the Sydney Morning Herald. ''It's also going for the upmarket accommodation because they're incredibly expensive.''
In 2007 the government spent $3.5 million refurbishing Byron Bay's beachfront Clarkes Beach Caravan Park. Fourteen cabins which have air-conditioning and wireless internet were added. These can now be rented for up to $1610 a week.
How much?
For its part the LPMA says it is just responding to tourist demands for improved services.
''The travelling public is wanting better amenities and some councils have told LPMA that meeting this demand is beyond their expertise,'' a spokesman said.
Did somebody say $1610 a week! Okay. I guess there must be people out there willing to pay that sort of cash for a luxury cabin ... but where are budget-conscious families and grey nomads supposed to go once they’ve turned our parks into upmarket playgrounds for the wealthy?

***

Ten's a Crowd

I guess the longer you travel the more crazy things you see happen on the road … but this one will probably take some beating.
Over in the UK, a man has been banned from driving for two years after he was caught towing a caravan with three women and seven children inside it!.
The 46-year-old drove the 10.5ft x 6ft (3m x 1.8m) caravan for about 160 kilometres from his home in Stoke-on-Trent for a picnic in Wales.
Sameer Mirzar was stopped after other drivers saw the caravan curtains moving and reported it. The children inside were aged between five and 14.
"It was totally irresponsible behaviour and could have had disastrous consequences, Sergeant Ifan Jones told a court in Caernarfon, Wales.  "The consequences of this caravan overturning or being involved in a collision are unimaginable. It was risking the lives of innocent people unnecessarily."
Airline worker Mirzar, who is originally from Saudi Arabia, pleaded ignorance of the law and highway code, adding that he would never put his family in a dangerous position.
However, he did admit dangerous driving. As well as being banned from driving for two years and having to retake his test, magistrates fined him £900 with £215 costs.
So, what’s the craziest thing you have seen other motorists do? Have you seen passengers in the back of caravans? Email us here to share your tales.

***

Nomad Boom Time

As people begin to believe that the worst of the global financial crisis is behind us, they are flocking to the grey nomad lifestyle like never before.
Indeed, the number of recreational vehicles built in Australia is expected to reach 24,000 in 2010 ... at least 5000 more than in any other year. Wow! As recently as the mid-1990’s annual sales of recreational vehicles in this country was a relatively paltry 5000.
The president of the Recreational Vehicle Manufacturers Association of Australia, Richard Raven, said that about 10 per cent of these are motorised, with the rest made up of caravans and camper-trailers.
''In the last two months we've had a huge increase in the number of buyers and inquiries,” a director of the Sydney RV Centre, Jeremy Pearce, told the Sydney Morning Herald. “Sales are up 100 per cent on the same month last year.''
While easing fears over financial meltdown may explain part of the growing popularity of the grey nomad lifestyle, I’d like to think that the positive experiences reported by those already out there has also played a part.
Mr Pearce said there is currently a waiting period of nearly six months for some popular motorhome models and demand is expected to remain similarly high as more baby boomers retire.
Of course as numbers increase so to will the demand to see sufficient infrastructure in place to cope with the extra travellers.
Australia has about 2500 caravan parks, with more than 200,000 sites.
Nonetheless, the general manager of Albury City Council, Les Tomich, is not alone in saying that many councils are not prepared for the expected surge in the number of motorhome tourists, and he says they need to install more basic sites where motorhome owners can dump waste and use power and water.
And that, of course, is not what the caravan park industry wants to see. The chief executive of the Caravan, RV and Accommodation Industry of Australia, Ben Yates, has warned that new rest areas would represent unfair competition if they do not comply with all of the regulations that apply to caravan parks.
Interesting times ahead.
Have any of you delayed your grey nomad debut due to global financial crisis fears? What persuaded you to take the plunge? Email us here to share your experiences.

***

Killers can be cute

Not so long ago we reported in the Nomad about the dangers of overseas camping and, in particular, the threats posed by rampaging Grizzly bears. Of course, we could have also mentioned charging moose, cunning cougars and deadly rattle snakes  … but mountain goats!
Well you can most definitely add them to the ‘keep your distance’ list following a fatal attack in the US. Authorities have since tracked down and killed the goat that gored a hiker to death in Olympic National Park near Seattle.
Apparently, there had been reports from other hikers that the animal had been trailing them and would not back away when approached.
Rangers had erected warning signs, telling visitors to stay at least 100 feet from any animals, including the goats. There are also signs and warnings from rangers that hikers should not urinate near trails since goats are attracted to the salt.
Robert Boardman, 63, had been hiking with his wife and a friend and had stopped for lunch when the goat approached them and began acting aggressive. The man told his companions to leave while he attempted to distract the animal. When Mr Boardman’s wife and friend heard him yell they ran back and found the goat standing over him as he lay motionless on the ground. Other hikers managed to scare the goat away by hurling rocks and waving blankets at it. The attacked man died later in hospital.
Scary stuff. And I guess the moral of the story is that all wild animals should be treated with extreme caution, even the cuty and cuddly looking ones. We all know to be wary of snakes, crocs and dingoes … but what are the less big name scaries out there? Has anyone come across an aggressive koala, or been stalked by a hungry platypus? Email us here to share your unusual wildlife encounters.  

***

Knight this Genius?

Aha! Finally a caravan park initiative that should meet with universal grey nomad approval. In what the Sydney Daily Telegraph is reporting to be a cheeky bid to pinch tourists from the nearby Blue Mountains, the historic western Sydney town of Richmond is offering three free nights at a new caravan park for any tourists with a van or motorhome.
Grey nomads and others are being invited to use the park's facilities and enjoy the breathtaking mountain views - all without having to pay a cent.
I like the way these guys are thinking!
The local RSL, the Richmond Club, has apparently spent $250,000 to lure tourists back to the town, with the free Wanderest caravan park promotion seen as a way of bringing more tourists - and their dollars - into the community's shops, galleries, pubs and clubs.
"Richmond is a hidden secret and a lot of locals want to keep it hidden but for economic prosperity we have to reveal it," Richmond Club CEO, Kimberley Talbot told the Daily Telegraph.  "With the Wanderest project, we wanted more people having the opportunity to experience what the area has to offer. It is truly God's land."
Ms Talbot said the initial concept of a free camp was suggested more than two years ago, after the club chairman travelled Australia staying in caravan parks.
"A well-developed plan for tourism can bring many benefits to a community,” she said. “If you have vacant land, a caravan park is easy to set up and clubs can bring economical sustainability to their local areas."
Yes, yes, yes!
The park features toilets, showers, powered and non-powered sites, a dump point, picnic tables,  open grassed areas and ... a clear view of the Blue Mountains.
All sounds good to me. I, for one, am hoping that Richmond’s cunning plan to revive its popularity of the 1800s is a success.
Attractions include the gravity-defying Magnetic Hill, where you can apparently park your car, put it in neutral and watch it climb up the hill! Or you can see one of the nation's oldest racetracks, or the RAAF base, or try fishing on the Hawkesbury or a walking tour past a string of stately mansions. Or, I guess you could just hang out, do your laundry and be nice to all the park management ... we want this free caravan park concept to catch on!
So, will the prospect of three free nights lure you to Richmond? Do you think the genius who cooked up the plan should be knighted? ... and is Magnetic Hill as amazing as it sounds? Email us here to share.

***

October 19

All Change at Park
Another five caravan parks on the mid north coast of New South Wales have been handed over from local council control, to a new specialised Land Trust, as a statewide review of council managed caravan parks on Crown Land continues.
The Land and Property Management Authority recently transferred a number of caravan parks on Crown land, from local council control to a new Crown Land Management Trust.
As reported in the Nomad last week, they include some parks in the Port Macquarie Hastings region.
The latest transfers are in the Great Lakes area. The ABC says the local council has agreed to resign as trust reserve manager of the Forster Beach, Tuncurry Beach, Hawks Nest and Seal Rocks Holiday Parks and the Jimmys Beach caravan park.
The council says it's ensured that existing management contracts for the parks won't be affected.
The Lands Department meanwhile says the caravan park review comes as some councils re-assess what their core business is.
"There's 260 Crown caravan parks along the coast and our core objective is to have better operating caravan parks that will support tourism industries and that'll benefit local jobs," said the general manager of the Crown Lands division, Graham Harding. "The profits that will be generated on the parks actually goes back into maintaining and improving the parks and is also invested in the local Crown Reserves."

October 18

The 'Big' Question
The recent sale of an ‘iconic’ Australian tourist attraction has forced us to ask the ‘big question’. And it is: do grey nomads seek out the largest pineapple, banana and prawn for a fantastic photo opportunity or do we drive on by with a wry shake of the head?
Yup, as we rack up hundreds upon hundreds of kilometres seeking out adventure, camaraderie and beauty … do fibreglass monsters rate high on our must-do list?
Oh, and if they do, you may want to delay your visit to the Sunshine Coast for a while. It seems the new owners of the fabled Big Pineapple have closed the national icon for renovations, hoping to reopen again for Christmas.
The Bowden family purchased the land earlier last week for an undisclosed amount of money and said they will revamp the Big Pineapple’s operations, planning to add an Australian motor racing exhibit.
But we can all breathe easily. Chris Bowden told the ABC that while the family has plans to renovate the area, they will not be disposing of the 15-metre high Big Pineapple. Phewwwww!
“There’s yet to be found anyone in Australia who doesn’t know exactly where the Big Pineapple is or at least have a rough idea it’s on the Sunshine Coast, so we’re quite happy to take it on,” Mr Bowden said. “Our current plans move along the lines of giving the site a much needed birthday party and restoring it back to something I can recall from my childhood.”
As the big thing phenomena spreads like wildfire though the country and the number of ‘attractions’ now runs into the hundreds, it may provide tourism planners with valuable insight if we can establish how these items affect our travel plans.
So, in the interests of tourism research, we ask you to answer the following questions and email your responses here.

 The Great Grey Nomad ‘Big Thing’ survey.

1. Have you ever taken a picture of Coffs Harbour’s Big Banana?
2. Are the Big Stubbies actual attractions in Tewantin, Queensland and Larrimah, NT, or are they urban myths?
3. How many Big Oranges are there in Australia (at last count)?
4. Is it true that the council in Ceduna put a sign inside the Big Oyster to stop people sleeping inside it?
5. What is the Big Potato in Robertson, NSW, more commonly known as?
6. Would you take a detour of say 20km to take in the Big Wine Cask at Buronga, NSW
7. Does Hexham’s Big Mosquito - built to celebrate the widespread grey mosquito - really make people want to visit the NSW town?
8. Are there too many Big things in Australia or is all good fun which helps keep long journeys interesting?
9. Would you like to see the authorities in Broome, WA, build the Big Grey Nomad?

***

October 15

Yes we Cane!
In the red corner, we have the people’s champions …. the community-spirited grey nomads (Hooray!)
And in the blue corner we have the cunning but evil invaders … the cane toad (Boooo! Hisss!)
The cane toad is on the attack, it’s landing devastating blows to native species, it’s moving across state and territory borders …. surely, nothing can stop it now, the referee looks set to end this one-sided contest.
But what’s this …. the grey nomads and their allies are getting up off the canvas, they’re fighting back, they are landing punches … small punches but it is a sustained and determined attack … can they really win against all the odds?
Well, the organisers of the six-week cane toad muster near Kununurra in WA certainly think it’s a winnable fight … or at least they think they can stem the tide until hopefully a secret weapon arrives. Grey nomads were very well represented among the 130 volunteers who took part in this year’s just finished muster to try to stop the invasion.
Every night, the dedicated toad musterers strapped on their head torches and marched off into the Kimberley wilderness, dressed in gumboots and gloves to try and catch one of Australia's most wanted pests.
Gary Pyke used to be a public servant and has always been interested in conservation but did he ever imagine spending his retirement like this?
"Not for a minute,” he told the ABC. “Often when I'm standing out there in the middle of a swamp up to my waist in mud and in a mangrove forest with the risk of crocodiles and everything else I think, what the hell am I doing out here but I'm loving every minute of it."
He reckons it's a great way to meet people and have some fun along the way.
"We do have a friendly toad tipping competition, a nightly one where we put in $5 at the start of the week and everybody puts in a tip about how many toads we might catch and we just give a little prize the next day once the tally's in,” he said. "I won a boab nut carved by some Aboriginal kids who came up to visit us from Fitzroy High School."
Stop The Toad Foundation manager Kim Hands says 2010's tally stands at 20,641 captured toads, in both the Northern Territory and WA.
The aim is to protect areas near Kununurra including Point Springs nature reserve and Lake Argyle.
"They're into Western Australia by about 50 kilometres and unfortunately if it's a good wet they'll move further,” Kim said. "We go out looking for toads around waterholes, picking them up with our hands and then take them back to camp to euthanase them with carbon dioxide."
Obviously, the group can use all the volunteers they can get ... so bear it mind for next year everyone. Cane toads, which have a poison gland behind their head and release poison when predators grab them, have caused native animals like goannas, snakes, freshwater crocodiles and quolls to decline in number.
The battle, though, has now begun in earnest.
"Last year, the toads had just got to Keep River so that was the frontline, there wasn't that many,” Kim said. "This year they have had 18 months to breed up and establish populations and we removed 7,000. At the edges of Lake Argyle last year we took out only 1,200, this year was 10,000."
Gulp!
Have you come across many can toads on your travels? What do you do when you find one of the pests? Can we make a difference? Email your thoughts here.

***

October 14

A Long Term View
Earlier this week we reported on the plans to upgrade the magnificently located coastal caravan park at Kingscliff in northern New South Wales.
Part of the plan includea reducing the number of long-term vans at the site … and this really raises the issue of what the character of a caravan park is … and
should be.
Many parks where grey nomads stay on their Big Lap will have some permanent residents and that is all well and good. However, it seems that, at least in Tasmania, there is concern from some caravan park operators that US-style "trailer parks" could emerge for poverty-stricken homeless people.
Caravan park operators like Martin McConnon, the owner-operator of Barilla Holiday Park in Cambridge, says he doesn’t want his park to be viewed as a cheap housing alternative. He said people experiencing short-term housing problems continually stayed at the park because they had no other options, and that there  were currently five long-term residents at his park … but he was not taking more. He said a university student from northern Tasmania was among those staying at the park because she could not find affordable rental accommodation in Hobart.
Mr McConnon said he feared caravan parks were at risk of becoming "trailer parks" like the low-cost housing sites of the US.
Another park manager, who asked not to be named, said a woman had been living in an on-site caravan at his park for 26 years. He said there were 13 residents who had lived at the park for years because it was cheap.
The park in question is owned by the Glenorchy City Council and the manager said he had been banned from taking on any more long-term residents.
Media reports suggest that some 200 people sleep in bush, parks, empty buildings and cars every night in Hobart, and Shelter Tasmania executive Pattie Chugg said rising rents were forcing more people on to the streets.
"A recent survey of available properties by Anglicare Tasmania revealed that only 12.8 per cent were affordable for low-income earners," she said.
Of course, there is a wider social issue here. A series of unfortunate events or medical issues can land a surprising number of people on the streets. But should caravan parks be part of the solution? Have you noticed a larger than previous permanent resident population at van parks? Does it matter? What are the alternatives? Email your thoughts here.  

October 13

Van Parks on the Move
A major review is underway of council managed caravan parks on Crown Land in New South Wales.
Last week, the management of two caravan parks in Port Macquarie was transferred to the North Coast Accommodation Trust … and more in other areas may soon follow.
Minister for Lands, Tony Kelly, said the Land and Property Management Authority had worked closely with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to reach agreement on the future management arrangements for Bonny Hills and North Haven caravan parks.
“Council has agreed to resign as Reserve Trust manager of the two parks,” the Minister said. “The parks will now be managed by the North Coast Accommodation Trust which has specialised skills and experience in caravan park management.”
Mr Kelly said the government was committed to improving recreational and tourism facilities at caravan parks and was working to implement management strategies to ensure quality facilities are available for the community.
“I can assure the community, these two caravan parks will continue to operate as caravan parks,” the Minister said. “LPMA will be working closely with van owners and tourists to ensure services are not only maintained but enhanced.”
Hmmm!
The Lands Department says the caravan park review comes as some councils re-assess what their core business is.
The general manager of the Crown Lands division Graham Harding said many council were seriously looking at handing back their caravan parks.
"There's 260 Crown caravan parks along the coast and our core objective is to have better operating caravan parks that will support your tourism industries," he said. “That will benefit local jobs, and the profits that will be generated on the parks actually goes back into maintaining and improving the parks and also invested in the local Crown Reserves."
Obviously the key things from a grey nomad point of view is that, first and foremost, these sites remain caravan parks and that the fees don’t end up going through the roof as – presumably – facilities and services improve.
The Kempsey shire council is the latest authority to begin considering if it will return its five caravan parks to the Department of Lands.
The general manager David Rawlings says if that happens the council would hope to get compensated.
"Because we can't get the money to spend on those Reserves from anywhere else, is there an agreement we can reach where they compensate us?" he asked. “That's what we're currently sort of starting the negotiations on now ... these are valuable assets which the councils and community have built up over time."
Watch this space. Comments anyone? Email us here.

***

October 12

Kingscliff Facelift
More changes afoot at one of our iconic coastal van parks, but this time - at least at first glance - perhaps for the better.
The Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park in northern New South Wales is set to undergo a major revamp to bring the park into the 21st century.
Tweed Coast Holiday Parks Reserve Trust executive manager Richard Adams told the local paper they are hoping a plan outlining a new direction for the Marine Parade park, situated on Crown land, will be ready in the next three to six months.
“It's a million-dollar location with a thousand dollar park … the immediate plan is to continue operating the park as it is,” Mr Adams said. “What we're focusing on is improving the marketing attractiveness of the parks. We want to look at making the park more attractive in terms of the aesthetics.”
However, that may involve asking some longer term holiday van visitors to move on.
The Kingscliff park, which is one of seven holiday parks in the Tweed Shire managed by the trust and overseen by the council, has long-term casual van or holiday vans, as well as sites for tourists.
Mr Adams said some of these holiday vans have been at the park for years.
“There are 177 sites in total and about 48 per cent are holiday vans,” he said. “The long-term goal is to significantly reduce the number of holiday vans in the park and change the design and layout of the park and make it more accessible.”
He said the Reserve Trust wanted to give more people the opportunity to stay in the park and have the park open to the travelling public.
Mr Adams said they can give long-term casual occupants notice at any stage if they want them to vacate the park.
He added the trust has been trying to get the approvals to improve the park for many years, which has included conducting studies on how to protect the foreshore.
“This is taking many, many years and whilst that's happening we can't do much with the park,” he said. “I would hope in the next three to six months we should have the planning complete.”
All plans need the approval of the trustees, the council and State Government.
On the face of it, the revamp may be a good and necessary thing and would possibly encourage more grey nomads to visit and to stay. What do you think? Have you stayed at Kingscliff? Is it high time for a revamp? Or are you worried this may be part of a cunning plan to sell off part of the site. Email your thoughts here.

October 11

Dust in the Wind?
Australians are being warned to be ready for another major dust storm within the next few weeks.
Many grey nomads will already be familiar with the blinding, choking natural phenomenon which can make driving impossible and give even the most normal of scenes an apocalyptic edge.
The Australian National University's Professor Patrick De Deckker says he expects another major storm to develop after the flooded inland of Australia dries during spring.
"You had major floods in Central Australia and I think in the near future, when the material that covers the landscape - especially the lake floors and river banks - when that dries up, the wind will pick it up and lift some of the material to our eastern seashores," he said. "So it is likely to be this spring, but more likely in early autumn."
Professor De Deckker has also developed what he describes is a ‘fingerprinting’ technique to identify the composition and origin of dust.
He told the ABC that the technique reveals the origin, cause and impacts of severe events such as the last major storm over Sydney and Canberra in September last year.
"What we have discovered is that when you have a major dust storm and you have a front carrying a lot of dust, it may start in a particular area - let's say Lake Eyre - it will pick up additional dust on its way, so the composition of the dust storm will change," he said. "The other thing that we have found is that rain does carry quite a lot, or drop a lot of dust."
Of course, there are health issues for people exposed to dust storms and they are particularly hazardous for anyone with chronic lung disease or sinus disease. Once the particles per cubic metre are above 300, dust storms pose a risk to lung health. Large particles are trapped in the nose and sinuses and can worsen sinusitis for those who suffer from this debilitating condition. Dr Phillip Thompson, a Director of the Centre for Asthma, Allergy and Respiratory Research at the University of Western Australia, warns that when even smaller particles reach the lower airways they act as an irritant and can trigger asthma in those whose asthma is unstable.
“Patients with asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, COPD, Bronchiectasis or anyone with a current chest infection are at risk and should take preventative measures,” he said. “These may include staying in doors with windows and doors closed, increasing medication where this is part of their self care plan and/or seeking medical advice if they worsen”
So, there may be a dust storm a’comin’ and we best be ready when she does!
Professor De Deckker said hooved animals such as sheep and cattle had also contributed to dust storm conditions by breaking through the thin soil veneer in dry areas, making the land more unstable.
However, a spokesman for the NSW Office of Water said the state's far west ''was in excellent condition with significant vegetation cover as a result of the extensive rain and associated flooding that occurred from January to March''.
Watch this space! And make sure you shut the van’s doors and windows shut if the predicted storm does arrive … apart from everything else, all that dust can be a devil of a job to clean up.
Have you been caught in a dust storm? Email us here to tell us of your experience.

October 7

A Bridge too Far?
It seems the same wet weather which turned the Outback into a wildlife wonderland and left grey nomads and others eager to get amongst it has ironically also prevented them from making their dreamed-of trip.
A south-west Queensland mayor says road closures and wet conditions have contributed to a huge tourism slump in Birdsville, with visitor numbers half what they were last year.
Diamantina Mayor Robbie Dare says 120,000 people visited the shire in 2009 but this year it is looking closer to 50,000.
He told the ABC that Birdsville businesses were suffering but a cross-border approach to repairing the Birdsville Track would help.
“The Lake Eyre and the wildlife - once the roads open, people are there, they are knocking at the door but we just can't keep them open long enough," he said."That first 50 or 60 kilometres out of Birdsville is the worst bit and when it is in dire straits, it's very hard for the South Australian highways to get to it … it is common sense for us to do something for them.”
But, perhaps with grey nomads in mind, Mr Dare said it was not just a Birdsville Track problem.
“There have been a lot of road closures throughout outback Queensland but it would have a pretty big bearing on it,” he said. “People want to do the loops - they want to use that track coming or going."
Of course, back in June Cooper Creek floodwaters cut the Birdsville Track for the first time in 20 years and a punt has been operating to ferry limited numbers of cars across the water.
It’s a situation that has left some people calling for federal funding to build a bridge.
Queensland Federal MP Bruce Scott says while it does not flood often, it can take several months for the Cooper Creek to recede so that the route can be fully
used again.
"The punt that was put in 30 years ago is certainly not sustainable nor the solution today," he said. "I believe we might have to look at whether it's a bridge or raising the flood level, but I think a bridge might be the way.”
Hmmm! Is a bridge the solution? Or is occasional flooding and the adventure it brings part of the allure of the iconic track? Email us here.

October 6

A Forum Milestone
Wow! It’s time to pop the Champagne corks yet again as membership of the the grey nomads forum tops the 2,000 mark!
It’s an impressive milestone and shows both how popular the grey nomad lifestyle is becoming and what a vibrant and sharing community we are part of.  When this site was set up a number of years ago now, it was intended to be a place where fellow grey nomads could share tips, advice and experiences. We knew our fellow travellers were a knowledgeable, friendly and helpful bunch … we just didn’t know how knowledgeable, friendly and helpful!
The 2,000 milestone is a tribute to all of your contributions and your willingness to help others, to encourage others, to advise others and, occasionally, to enter into a ‘lively’ debate with others.  An internet forum is only as strong as the group of people that form its membership and we can say with certainty that the grey nomads forum is very strong indeed. There is no doubt that collectively you have helped to enhance the grey nomad experience for hundreds, if not thousands, of others and persuaded one or two ‘undecideds’ to take the plunge.  Thanks to you all.
As we now zero in on the 3,000 membership target, it is time to look to the future.  Over the coming months, we hope to introduce a few new features to the website to hopefully enhance your  enjoyment of it and maximise your benefits from it. These will include:

• A regular newsletter offering special ’members’ discounts, the chance to win great prizes, and, of course, expert advice on current aspects of the grey nomad lifestyle.
• More photographic competitions. The water-themed contest was a stunning success. Watch this space for news of the ‘Nomads at Play’ contest coming soon.
• Okay, wait for it. Grey Nomads baseball caps are on their way. Think what a dashing figure you’ll make on your way to the amenities blocks wearing one of these fashion ‘must-haves’! Details to follow.
• More grey nomad bumper stickers. Demand has been extremely heavy so it’s off to the sticker printers we go.  If you would like a completely free bumper sticker to light up your rig and help fellow nomads recognise you, please email us here with your name and address and we will get one or two posted out to you immediately.

It’s going to be an exciting time. Thank you all again for being part of it. And a very heartfelt ‘thanks for the memories’. It’s been a wonderful journey.  Now, back to the Champagne!

October 5

Lake Water for Victoria
There has been a lot of talk in recent months about how grey nomads have been drawn in great numbers to the Outback since it has been transformed by unusual amounts of rain into a wildflower and birdlife wonderland.
Well, it is certainly not just the really remote areas of the country which are enjoying the tourism benefits of a good soaking. The Ballarat Courier in Victoria reports that the fuller lakes in that part of the world are drawing many more visitors and helping to fill the caravan parks.
Lake Learmonth Caravan Park owner Kevin Davies said the lake hadn't been this full for close to 12 years.
"Bookings the last month have just gone through the roof," Mr Davies said.  "There are not many activities to do on the lake because it's not deep enough but the scenery is great and the wildlife fantastic.
Mr Davies said the upcoming spring months would bring even more business.
"People are aware of the fact that the lake has been empty and now they want to see how it's going."
Lake Burrumbeet Caravan Park owner Greg Johns said business had increased by 50 per cent.
"We're getting a lot more inquiries," Mr Johns said.  "It's happened because of the water. Everyone loves it. They're already skiing on the lake and fishing and all that sort of stuff."
Jubilee Lake Caravan Park manager Sharron Martin said the water levels had always been relatively high. But she said last month's rainfall had allowed for a rejuvenation of the park's surrounding environment.
Have you been enjoying he lakes around Ballarat? Email us here to share.

***

October 4

Pinnacle of Access
We reported last week that Lancelin in Western Australia may struggle to cope with an expected tourist influx following the completion of the Indian Ocean Drive. Of course, Lancelin will not be the only coastal community affected as the long-awaited new road brings many more grey nomads and others into previously difficult-to-reach destinations.
The completion of the last stretch between Lancelin and Cervantes means there will be an uninterrupted sealed coastal route from Perth to Dongara, and coastal communities further north. It will allow tourists and other light vehicles to avoid the heavy freight traffic on the Brand Highway.
It was actually started back in the 1990's and the idea was to provide drivers heading up the state's coastline with a safer and quicker route … and the indications so far are that it has certainly done that.
When the final section opened last week, Transport Minister Simon O'Brien said that stretch alone would take 30 minutes off the journey between Lancelin and Cervantes.
"It's certainly going to be safer than the alternatives that are currently available," he said. "This is a way where we'll be able to separate tourist and general passenger traffic from the heavier traffic on Brand Highway, which is also a very busy, but important road."
Mr O’Brien said the Lancelin-Cervantes Stage 2 project comprised a number of other features, which would no doubt open up the surrounding area for future development opportunities. 
“20km of side roads and several connection points; improvement works to nine kilometres of Pinnacles Drive; parking bays at prominent tourist locations; a passing lane; and multiple overtaking opportunities to name a few,” he said. “The project team worked very closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation to ensure thorough considerations were given to managing the environment.”
Businesses on Western Australia's central coast have already reported a significant increase in trade in the first week since the Indian Ocean Drive was opened.
Main Roads says about 1,000 drivers have been using the new road each day, taking about 400 vehicles off the Brand Highway.
Pete Lonnon from the Jurien Bay Chamber of Commerce says businesses could not be happier after enjoying a significant increase in activity over the long weekend.
"We have been waiting for the Indian Ocean Drive to open up, it's been a long time coming," he said. "It was sort of on and off again, now we've got it through I do think that the town, it's businesses and the community in general, is starting to turn a corner."
Have any of you tested out the new route yet? Any views? Is this a good thing or will a tourist influx change these lovely coastal communities too much? And what’s next do you think … the sealing of the Gibb River Road or the Birdsville Track? Email us here.

***

September 29

No Room at Lancelin
Well, here’s proof positive that you reap what you sew. The short-term gain achieved by allowing beautiful coastal van parks to be sold off and developed is translating into long-term pain for some communities.
Beautiful Lancelin on the west coast is a case in point. There are growing fears that the small coastal town may not have the infrastructure to handle the expected tourist boom following the opening of the long-awaited Indian Ocean Drive.
Gingin shire councillor Ashley Maley, who represents the Lancelin ward, said on one particular night 12 caravans were illegally parked on a gravel pit site near the because there was no space for them in the town caravan parks.
“The caravan park in Lancelin has permanent vans and the other one, which was privately owned, was sold to developers for housing,” he said. “Lack of space for caravans is a huge problem and a major concern for us; we are afraid word will spread that there is no space for travellers to stay in Lancelin and they will bypass us.”
If there is no place to stay, then I would say that is a fair bet … however beautiful the town may be.
“Those campers knew the risk but they decided to take the punt because they wanted to stay in the area,” said Mr Maley. “It is a magical spot.”
And the good news. He said land was earmarked for an additional caravan park that was in a good, central location close to shops.
The application is in the hands of the Department of Regional Development and Lands (RDL), but Mr Maley said the process had been slow.
“We knew this road was opening so we have wanted this spot for a caravan park for three years,” he said. “Now that the road is open, we need the facilities sooner rather than later.”
However, all the processes, including native title and environmental clearances, could take up to two years.
What a shame so many grey nomads will miss out on the delights of Lancelin in the interim. Not that the developers who have probably made their money and moved on will be too concerned about that.
Email us your thoughts here.

***

September 28

Happy Holidays?
Okay guys, brace yourselves. The school holidays are here and that means it’s time to share this beautiful country, these beautiful camping spots, and this wonderful lifestyle with a veritable army of occasional ‘interlopers’ …. the wider Australian public!
Grey nomads have different ways of coping with the changed conditions at their van park, camping area or roadside stop. Some take the opportunity to visit friends or family and park up there for a while, some snag a good spot at as remote a location as they can find and wait until it’s all over, and some choose to go with the flow and just enjoy the melodious sounds of hopefully happy children and de-stressing parents.
Of course, nobody likes to trip over a scooter outside the amenities block, listen to animated conversations long into the night, or have kids running through their camp … but it’s just every now and again, isn’t it? And these poor people will have to return to ‘normal’ life in a week or two and we’ll once again rule the roost in the paradise that is Australia.
And remember, these are the grey nomads of the future.
One place where it is certainly wonderful to have children back laughing and playing and loving the camping experience is the Agnes Water Beach Caravan Park in Queeensland.
The park is absolutely picture perfect and is located right on the beachfront. You may remember that it opened up again last year after the site stood vacant for almost a decade as developers tried to get finance for a luxury unit complex. Happily, the 1770 Group stepped in and bought the site, reviving what was the position of the original caravan park owned by Agnes pioneers, the Jeffery family.
In the battle to save our magnificent coastal van parks from the clutches of the developers this was a major win.
And the smiles have apparently been on the faces of happy travellers ever since. The ‘no vacancy’ signs are certainly out at the moment and the van park full to overflowing.
 “It's been really good We are just about full, with only a few spaces here and there – and it's been that way for months really.,” Agnes Water Beach Caravan Park manager Mark Perks said. “The grey nomads have kept us busy, right through. Then they moved out and the families moved in for the school holidays.”
Aaaah! The school holidays. So how do you survive the ‘invasion’ on your turf? Email us here to share your ‘surviving the holidays’ tactics. Or, is it something that we shouldn’t be grumpy about at all and should actively be looking forward to meeting a whole new brand of camper?

September 24

A Priceless Lifestyle?
How about this as a validation of the joys of caravanning and motorhoming? A British couple, who won £7.7 million, on the Lotto are celebrating their win by taking a holiday … at a caravan park!
Newly super rich Ivan and Sue Westbury travelled to Cornwall in England’s south-west to enjoy a 'Staycation' thanks to an offer in the newspaper that meant they could stay for just £9.50 at the caravan park.
Mr Westbury is a 64-year-old lightning conductor factory owner, who has not missed a day of work since his big win and still drives a five-year-old car.
"We'd booked the holiday before the win and I always said we'd go on it," he told the Sun newspaper.  "It's our fourth £9.50 and we love them because the accommodation is good, clean and in good locations - and you can't question the value."
The millionaire explained that being able to bring his dog was a big plus, while each break they have enjoyed at camp sites has been "great fun and relaxing".
Apparently, Cornwall is a favourite destination for surfers and sailors, who enjoy the wonders of the Cornish coast.
So, grey nomads of Australia, the question is this. If you were to win the big one, would you ditch the caravan or motorhome in favour of the more traditional millionaire’s holiday accommodation of luxury hotels? Would you trade campfire cuisine for fine dining at posh restaurants? Email us here to take part in the great grey nomads ‘if-I-were-a-millionaire’ survey. And, come on guys, be honest!    

***

September 23

How Wild is Too Wild?
We reported recently on a grizzly bear attack near Yellowstone National Park in the US, never thinking that it was an issue that would directly affect us Aussies … well, we were wrong!
It is being reported in the Canadian media that two Australians are currently attempting to sue for $75,000 in general damages, plus unspecified lost past and future earnings, after they were attacked by a grizzly while sleeping in a tent in Lake Louise some 15 years ago. The plaintiffs argue that park officials failed to design the campground and use protective devices such as fencing, alarms, barriers and guards or supervisors to prevent entry and attacks by bears. They also claim there was an inadequate bear management plan for the area.
Andrew Brodie, 36, and Owen Hereford, 37, who were severely injured in the encounter, are suing the Canadian government for not adequately protecting them and others.
Hmmm! Well, the legal move has got a lot of the locals very hot under the collar indeed.
“Canadians who value open, wild places don't want airport-style security at federal campgrounds.” thunders Calgary Herald columnist, Robert Remington. “Australians may be accustomed to underwater shark nets at Bondi beach, but barbed wire around Alberta campgrounds is not a wilderness experience.”
He makes the point that nobody warns international visitors arriving at Sydney airport about the wild creatures they may encounter if the venture outback.
“They don't hand out brochures warning that you are about to enter a land that has 10 of world's most poisonous snakes, not to mention the dreadful funnel-web spider or the treacherous paralysis tick,” he says. “By contrast, tourists entering Canada's mountain national parks are given pamphlets warning of bears, cougars and elk.”
Interestingly, Mr Remington goes on to say how he was camping at Jasper National Park last weekend and watched  as a bull elk attacked an awning on a motorhome, while another sparred with a swing in a playground. Blimey! When you also throw cougars into the mix, maybe Canadian wild creatures are more scary than ours!
“It makes me wonder - if I get chewed on by a shark, bitten by a redback spider (another of Australia's vile little creatures), or kicked in the groin by a kangaroo, do I get to sue the Australian government for failing to protect me?” writes Mr Remington. “Where does this end? Can anyone injured by an animal now sue authorities for establishing wildlife corridors around Banff and Canmore? The floodgate of liability could open ridiculously wide and poison Canada's wilderness experience for all.”
It’s a fair point. How much responsibility do the authorities have to warn visitors to outback areas about the potential hazards, and how much should be left to people’s own commonsense? Do you agree with the Australians’ law suit? Email us here to share your views. 

***

September 22

Smoke Alarm Signals
Change is afoot in New South Wales with the Government there moving to make smoke alarms mandatory in all caravans and other vehicles where people sleep.
While newly manufactured caravans in Australia are fitted with smoke alarms as standard, the requirements will now also apply to all existing caravans and recreational vehicles (RVs) regardless of when they were manufactured.
Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, said the risk of fire in caravans and recreation vehicles is high
because of the confined spaces and combustible nature of construction materials in them.
“The installation of smoke alarms would almost certainly have prevented many of the incidents that have occurred in these types of dwellings,” Mr Kelly said.
The Minister for Emergency Services, Steve Whan, said NSW fire fighters have attended more than 320 fires involving these types of accommodation vehicles in the last five years.
“Seven people died and 44 were injured,” Mr Whan said.
Proposed amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000, containing the new smoke alarm provisions, have been placed on public exhibition until November 5, 2010.
The new requirements follow the introduction of similar smoke alarm laws for fixed dwellings in 2006 and will apply to:

• Caravans;
• Motor homes;
• Campervans;
• Holiday vans;
• Buses and other vehicles converted to provide sleeping accommodation, regardless of
• whether they are registered for road use or not; and
• Annexes and associated structures made of non-flexible material (not tents).

“There are currently around 330,000 caravans and recreational vehicles (RVs) registered in Australia, with up to 80,000 being used by holidaymakers and travellers on any given day, who deserve the same level of fire safety that already exists in homes,” Tony Kelly said.
“That protection is now what the Government is proposing … recent progress in smoke alarm technology allowed the new policy to be introduced without unduly imposing on the rights and enjoyment of caravan and RV users.”
The Minister said the introduction of pre-emptive ‘hush button’ technology as a standard feature of many smoke alarms makes this important policy much more practical to implement.
“The Government recognises caravans and RVs are places where people will often, for example, cook in what is usually quite a confined space,” Mr Kelly said. “It wouldn’t be appropriate to enforce a law whereby holidaymakers had to deal with a smoke alarm going off every time they cook … however, hush button technology allows users to silence the smoke alarm for a short period of time when they know they are about to create some smoke, which means this new regulation is able to save lives without impinging on people’s ability to enjoy their holiday or place of residence.”
On the spot fines of $200 will apply for breaches of the regulation, with a maximum fine of $550 should the matter go to court. However, owners will be given six-months grace to comply with the new laws and fines are enforced.
What do you think of the proposed changes in the law? Have you ever had to deal with a fire in your RV? Email us here with your views.

***

September 21

Bee Sting Dangers
The incredible story of an American man who survived an attack by a swarm of 1,200 angry bees will have made one or two of us bush adventurers a little nervous.
Certainly, the bee attack scenario is the stuff of nightmares … right up there with snakes and crocs. While bee incidents of the magnitude endured by 65-year-old Lamar Lacaze last month are incredibly uncommon, it should remind us that bees are out there and even a single sting can have serious consequences.
Mr Lacaze was mowing his lawn in Texas when he was set upon by the huge bee swarm. His son Trey found his dad unconscious and and says there were so many bees around him it looked like he had a beehive on his head. Doctors pulled bees out of his mouth, ears, nose and throat and he's still in hospital weeks later. His face was covered in black, bloody spots and his eyes darkened in the wake of the terrifying attack.
Frightening stuff! Fortunately, attacks like this are freak events and, even more fortunately, doctors are amazed at the recovery being made by Mr Lacaze.
For most of us, a sting or two is the worst we can expect but even that is not to be taken lightly.
Apart from pain and swelling from a sting, a significant minority of people can also suffer a severe allergic reaction. Bee sting anaphylaxis is estimated to result in approximately two deaths per year in Australia, with wasp stings causing an estimated one death per year.
Surveys have shown that up to 2.8% have had episodes after a bee sting consistent with systemic allergic reactions (not just local swelling).
Reactions can include severe breathing problems and collapse, and this will obviously require immediate medical assistance. Most people with this allergy need to carry adrenaline to self-administer if necessary.
Allergy expert Dr John Weiner says the EpiPen adrenaline autoinjector is available in Australia as an authority prescription on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Your family doctor can prescribe EpiPen on the PBS in consultation with a clinical immunologist/allergist or respiratory physician.
Dr Weiner says most people with this type of allergy will be advised to undergo a course of allergy injections (desensitisation) to the venom. Such a course of treatment, although continuing over some years, is extremely effective in providing protection. He says the chances of getting a similar reaction with a future sting are about 60% unless desensitisation treatment is carried out. Allergy injections are available for severe allergy to honey bee, European wasp, and paper wasp stings.
It is probably no surprise to learn that honey bees were introduced into Australia. While we do have native bush bees that do not sting, there are many, many wild honey bees out there … and they most certainly do!
The European wasp arrived in Australia about 30 years ago, and is just now becoming a major pest. Unlike bees, wasps are quite aggressive when disturbed. There is a paper wasp that is native to Australia and tends to live in the bush. It can sting and cause allergies.
Bees and wasps can both cause painful stings because they inject venom using a small dart-like needle in their tails. The bee leaves its dart behind, stuck in your skin, and the bee subsequently dies. The wasp does not lose its dart, and does not die after the sting, and furthermore it can sting repeatedly.
If a stinger or dart is still stuck in the skin, it should be quickly removed, if possible without squeezing it. Next cold should be applied to the site and any further treatment will depend on the reaction to the sting … hopefully one that is not too dramatic.
Have you had a reaction to a bee sting or wasp sting? Do you carry an EpiPen on your travels? Do you have any advice on how to avoid being stung? Email us here to share.

September 20

Locust Plague Hits
The worst locust plague in a generation is causing alarm and despondency across the eastern states as farmers’ worst fears hatch into reality.
Landowners are bracing for a spring season that could see billions of the ravenous insects form gigantic swarms across Victoria, NSW, Queensland and South Australia … and devour every crop in their path.
And, of course, it is not just the farmers who need to be conscious of what is going on. Locust swarms can present significant motoring hazards for grey nomads and others. As well as reducing your ability to see the road and oncoming traffic, they can quickly block your vehicle’s radiator, causing overheating. Read on for advice on how to combat the threat.
It was the strong rainfall in Queensland and NSW that encouraged native grasses to flourish and provided perfect breeding conditions for locusts. Swarms then moved south, laying eggs over an area of Australia about the size of Spain. Some locust egg beds are estimated to stretch over 20km and contain billions of eggs.
There have already been 40 confirmed hatching sites across New South Wales alone and far more are expected within days.
“This is a result of widespread laying in autumn,'” said Industry and Investment NSW spokesman, Brett Fifield. “It's very hard to prepare a battle plan when you're up against nature itself.”
He said the staggered hatchings, which arose because of recent fluctuations in temperature, were making things more difficult as the population was in different stages of development.
Further north, government officers in the Sunshine State have sprayed a 5-kilometre-wide locust swarm that was so thick it looked like a dust storm.
Biosecurity Queensland principal officer Graham Hardwick said the swarm would have held millions of spur-throated locusts.
"You can see it rolling towards you," he said. "It's just like the cloud you get from a road train rolling down a dusty road. It's anybody's guess how many were in it but it was about 1km deep."
Mr Hardwick said the aerial spraying was conducted around Twin Hills, north of Clermont.
Swarms of about 1sq km also had been recorded near Cunnamulla, Blackall and Barcaldine.
The Australian Plague Locust Commission expects swarms to continue into November and December.
With nature already having claimed the Birdsville Races, the locusts are threatening to do the unthinkable ... cancel the Melbourne Cup itself!
Entomologist Gordon Berg from Victoria's department of primary industries says the forecast swarms could reach Melbourne and shut down major events.
He says locusts can travel up to 30km a day, but in rare circumstances could fly at night for several hundred kilometres.
"That's why there's always a risk of them moving from the north of Victoria ... as far south as Melbourne almost in one or two days," he said.
Large locust swarms haven't reached Melbourne since the early 1970s but there is genuine concern this year's swarm could threaten the spring racing carnival.
"It's got the potential to close events like Melbourne Cup Day and country race carnivals," Premier John Brumby said. "This is a war on locusts … we're doing everything we can to get on top of this."
So, while the various agencies start spraying and doing what they can to combat the destructive locust menace, what can we do when we are out and about on the highways and byways to keep ourselves safe.
The Victorian Department of Primary Industries has issued the following tips to enable us to prepare for a road trip and a possible encounter with locusts.
It says it’s advisable to:

• Add some specially formulated insect cleaning agent to the windscreen washer system (available at supermarkets, auto accessory outlets and service stations.)
• Consider attaching an insect screen on your external radiator air-inlet for extra protection (not green in colour)
• Pack a bag with spare water and extra insect cleaning agent and cloths/rags.
• Check the Department of Primary Industries website for the latest locusts information at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/locusts or call the DPI Locust Hotline on 1300 135 559

If you are have some trouble seeing the road because of the locusts:

• Slow down - gradually reduce your speed and continue driving carefully
• Turn on your headlights - to alert oncoming traffic of your presence
• Be aware that traffic coming from the opposite direction will also have reduced visibility
• Use your windscreen wipers to clear locusts from your windscreen – well-fed locusts leave a residue of body parts and fat at the point of impact
• Monitor temperature gauge on your dashboard – dead locusts can reduce air flow to an engine and cause overheating
• Pull over and use cleaning agent and cloths/rags to remove residue from windscreen, wipers headlights and radiator air-inlet

If you are have a lot of trouble seeing the road because of the locusts:

• Slow down– gradually reduce your speed and stop only where it is safe to do so
• Turn off your engine – to avoid overheating
• Turn on your headlights – to alert oncoming traffic of your presence
• Remain in your car until swarm subsides
• When visibility improves, apply water and insect cleaning agent and use cloths/rags to remove locust residue from windscreen, wipers headlights and radiator air-inlet
• Remain alert to danger of oncoming traffic
• Resume driving carefully

Have you come across large numbers of locusts yet? Have you had previous encounters with swarms? Email us here to share your experiences.

***

September 17

More Scary than Crocs?
If you talk to anyone from overseas about taking an extended grey nomad adventure in the wilds of Australia, one of the first things they will ask you about is the terrifying creatures lurking in the Outback.
The deadliest spiders in the world! Venomous snakes by the bucketload! Dingoes! Crocodiles! Drop Bears … the list goes on and on.
But in many ways, it is a case of better the devil you know. Certainly, the recent terrifying attack on campers in Wyoming, USA, just outside the fabled Yellowstone National Park, would send a shiver up the spine of many Aussie travellers.
One person died and two others were injured during the bear attack at the Soda Butte campground. A mother grizzly and her two cubs were captured shortly afterwards.
It is believed the adult grizzly attacked the campers in three separate tents. It dragged a 48-year old Michigan man from his tent and killed him, attacked a Canadian woman who played dead and escaped with broken bones, and bit a teenage boy on his leg leaving him with severe lacerations.
Wildlife officials said the adult bear went on a rampage and attacked the campers at random.
Don and Paige Wilhelm of Aledo, Texas, were spending the night with their two boys in the campsite next to the injured woman when they first heard a scream. It was coming from several sites away where, they later discovered, the teenage boy was being attacked.
"We weren't sure what it was. We thought maybe teenagers yelling," Don Wilhelm said. “Our first thought was take care of the family, to make sure our kids were okay.”
Paige Wilhelm said they hen heard a lady scream "No!' and then they heard her say, 'It's a bear! I've been attacked by a bear!"
As the animal snorted and huffed outside their tent, the Wilhelms first thought they would lie on top of their children to protect them from what seemed an inevitable attack. But after the noises outside stopped, they bolted for their 4WD.
With their 9- and 12-year-old boys pleading for them to stay in the vehicle, the Wilhelms drove through the campground, honking their horn and yelling at other campers.
All three victims had their food stored away in storage boxes as campers are instructed to do.
"They were doing things right," said Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Warden Captain Sam Sheppard. "It was random. I have no idea why this bear picked these three tents out of all the tents there."
The same campground was the site of a 2008 attack in which a grizzly bear bit and injured a man sleeping in a tent.
Yup, sometimes it really is better the devil you know!
Have any of you camped overseas and been nervous about hungry bears? Do you think Australia is the worst place in the world to camp in terms of scary creatures? What is your most nerve-wracking wildlife moment? Email us here to share. 

September 15

The Country Needs You
The incredibly positive impact that grey nomads have on the economic wellbeing of so many rural communities is becoming ever more important in a fast-changing world.
The extremely high Aussie dollar means more people are holidaying overseas and there are also fewer inbound tourists. In other words, the Australian tourism industry as a whole is struggling badly … and it is regional areas that are bearing the brunt.
"Australia's tourism industry was already facing challenging times, but the continued ascent of the Aussie dollar means that life is set to get even tougher for tourism-dependent businesses, especially in regional Australia,'' said CommSec chief economist Craig James. “There is only so much that local businesses can do to flower - the birds are beautiful," she told the ABC. "If you go to Lake Bindagolly there are swans with cygnets behind them which is pretty amazing and there are huge numbers of them, not just one or two … there is just about every type of bird species that you can think of."
Ms Seery says the high number of tourists should continue throughout the rest
of spring.
"These are the highest numbers I can find for Thargomindah," she said. "In fact, we have actually had more people come through our Visitor Information Centre than we had for the whole of last year."
She said that because of the rain they have had and the rain that is supposed to be still coming there will be another flush of wildflowers and so visitors will continue through into October and November.
It would certainly be silly not to take advantage of the unusually spectacular wildflower and birdlife show that the outback is putting on for us this year. Have you got any pics of the desert in bloom? We would love to see them. Please email us here.

September 14

Manager's Pet Peeve
Okay, all of you clever dog lovers who occasionally sneak your beloved pet into national parks or keep it hidden away in some van parks … be warned … certain people take the pet rules very seriously indeed.
Take James Williams, the owner-manager of the Horseshoe Motor Village Caravan Park at North Wagga, for example. He got so fed up with visitors flaunting his pet rules that he eventually took the law into his own hands and, while brandishing a slug gun demanded a naked man put his roaming dog into a car!
Told you some people took it seriously, didn’t I?
The confrontation on March 13 led to 56-year-old Williams being charged with 11 offences, which, after negotiations with prosecutors, was reduced to six to which he pleaded guilty, including being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence and firing a firearm in a public place.
In Wagga Local Court, Williams was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond and fined $700.
The local paper, The Daily Advertiser, reports that agreed facts tendered to the court said Williams shot the cattle dog-staffordshire terrier called Tigger with two pellets when he saw it roaming around the caravan park after guests had let it out of a cabin to go to the toilet.
The dog belonged to a Queensland couple who had booked into the caravan park because it was listed as "pet friendly", but they broke the rules by letting it sleep in the cabin and allowing it to roam free.
Still armed with his air rifle, Williams took the dog to the couple's cabin, banged on the door and demanded the male occupant put the dog in his car.
Although the man protested he was naked apart from being wrapped in a doona, Williams refused to let him dress and continued to point the firearm at the dog while demanding the man put the pet in the car.
The man complied, walking naked about one metre to his vehicle.
There was no suggestion Williams pointed the gun at the victim.
Williams' solicitor, Robert Stone, told the court his client had an unblemished record and had served people for decades in various roles, including bread vendor and general store operator without any conflict in the past.
But he said there must have been something in the attitude of the guest about his non-compliance with the pet rules that made Williams so angry.
John Kontista, for the Crown, said the guest did not know the firearm was a slug gun and, in fact, thought it was a .22 calibre rifle.
Magistrate Geoff Hiatt said there was no doubt the victim felt extreme fear.
Gulp! It makes you think, doesn’t it?
Incidentally, the park’s website does say it is pet friendly, as below.

Small dogs only. On leash always. Clean up after. Sites ONLY. Not with cabin hire. Manager’s discretion.

I guess visitors can’t say they haven’t been warned about the rules … but they probably couldn’t have guessed the consequences.
Have you stayed at the Horseshoe Motor Village van park. Were dogs an issue? Email us here to share you experience.

***

September 13

Victims of Van Scam
The grey nomad dream of a Victorian couple has been destroyed after they were caught up in a fake caravan sale scam that has cost them thousands of dollars. The pair, from Camperdown near Warrnambool, say they have been left feeling humiliated and embarrassed by the incident, and have now given up on their travelling plans.
“This was going to be our dream - to retire in a few years and go around Australia,” the scammed man said. “ I've just lost interest in caravans completley now."
The nightmare began when the couple, who do not wish to be named, responded to a classified advertisement for a 2006 Jayco caravan. It was advertised for $9650 and featured a swag of extras including a reverse-cycle air conditioner, LCD television and wireless sensor parking system. A check of caravan trading sites shows similar vans selling for about $49,000.
After unsuccessfully trying to contact the seller by phone number listed, the couple sent an email, and received a reply saying the seller was in the United Kingdom and was going through a divorce so was selling the caravan for a cheap price to get rid of it.
The couple were referred to a fake Ebay account which requested a money transfer through Western Union with a promise that they were able to provide a credit guarantee of up to $15,000 if there were any problems.
The Warrnambool Standard reports that the prospective buyers asked for the registration and VIN numbers which they checked to confirm there was no money outstanding on the vehicle.
The couple transferred $9650 as requested and were told the van would be delivered within 24 hours but, when this didn't occur, they became concerned. They emailed the seller again who said he had been in an argument with his wife about the cheap price of the van. She claimed it was worth at least $12,000.
Still thinking he was getting a bargain, they agreed to pay the additional money.
When the caravan still didn't turn up as promised, the couple again contacted the seller by email to be told it would cost another $1700 for shipping and insurance charges.
When the vehicle once again failed to turn up as promised and they were unable to get a response to any emails, the couple contacted Camperdown police who are now investigating the incident.
The man admitted to being naive when it came to buying anything online.
"We did get a little bit suspicious when he asked us for the second amount of money, but we thought we'd checked it out with the guarantee," he said. “"It ended up costing us $13,700 and it's a warning to other people to be very careful … we just feel like idiots … and now we're wondering how many other people he has scammed."
Please everyone … be very careful.

September 10

Home and Away
Wow! The ambitious plan to build a $73 million RV Homebase offering 210 homes in a residential village for the country’s swelling grey nomad population is becoming a reality.
Work is now officially under way on the project near Maryborough in Queensland, and it could well revolutionise the way people approach the Big Lap.
Those behind the scheme say RV Homebase will offer a base for Australians over 50 who are trailing the nation’s highways and byways.
 “It’s not unique throughout the world but it’s the first of its kind in Queensland,” said Project Manager, Barry Rawlinson. “This is where you come back to when you’ve finished your travelling for for the year … it will be a community of like-minded active retirees joining in social activities.”
The Fraser Coast Chronicle reports that grey nomads will be able to park their caravans or motorhomes at Tinana and live the high life, taking advantage of a string of leisure facilities that would compare well with some of the world’s finest resorts.
“Most people will sell a house of far greater value to move into a property here,” said Mr Rawlinson. “House prices start at $285,000 and already a number have been snapped up, including some of the more expensive, high-end designs.”
The first 12 houses are expected to be completed by January 2011, with a community centre also expected to be well under way at that stage. Each house will take eight to 10 weeks to finish, using a panel building system.
Up to 100 people will be employed on site at the corner of Iindah and Teddington roads during the next three years.
Do you think this concept will catch on? Would you be interested in this sort of set-up? Email us here to share your thoughts.

September 9

Fees Heading West
Another piece of mildly bad news for all you budgeteers who love travelling in the wonderful west. The cost of camping at the magnificent Coronation Beach Camping Grounds just north of Geraldton is going up to $15 per vehicle per night. The Shire of Chapman Valley says the increase is help cover costs associated with managing the facility.
Shire president John Collingwood says he does not anticipate people will bypass the popular location because of the increase … and nor should they.
He says council has operated the low-key tourist facility for the past five years and the increase is necessary to cover expenses.
"It pays for rubbish collection and the sullage, and we have to pump the sewage out fairly regularly which all adds to cost and we can improve our facilities," he said. "It's still cheaper, far cheaper than the caravan parks."
Now, I am never a big fan of camping fees going up but I must say this is an absolutely fantastic spot and is still certainly well worth a stop on your way up or down the west coast. There’s some nice camping spots and the beach, which is sheltered by an offshore reef, is lovely for swimming, fishing and walking. However, it is the windsurfers and kitesurfers who really love this place … and - if you’re not feeling energetic enough yourselves - they put on quite a show.
Any memories of Coronation Beach anyone? Views on the fee increase? Email us here.

September 8

Working Out Retirement
Hmmm! It’s sad to report yet another threat to the great grey nomad lifestyle. Forget the evidence of your own eyes, demographers are warning that there’ll be less mature-aged travellers on the road soon … because we’ll all be back at work!
Apparently, by 2050 some 25% of Australians will be over 65 and we'll have twice as many 80-year-olds … and people as old as 100 will still be putting in a hard day’s graft at the office or, heaven forbid, the building site!
Gulp!
Recent research has shown that more people are postponing retirement due to the fact we are living longer and that living costs more than it used to. According to a recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald, it used to be that, at 65, you were put out to pasture, but the baby boomers are supposedly redefining another social icon - retirement.
The director of the World Health Organisation's Department of Ageing, John Beard, says the ageing population presents a grand opportunity.
"Sure, there will be impacts on health service delivery and pensions, but society overlooks the skills and experiences of older people," he said. “Future generations could one day be taking years off work to raise a child, travel or go back to school and then find themselves still working at 100."
A recent survey in the US reveals that most people of retirement age want to stay employed in some capacity and some US companies are now offering retirement-age types the option of a 1000-hour working year (about 30 weeks) where they can choose to work a few days a month or go full-time for part of the year then take the rest of the year off and play grey nomad.
So, what do you think?
Is the joy of the grey nomad lifestyle all about ditching work forever and following the endless road, or would you be happy to travel for two or three years while in your 60s or 70s and then go back to work for a decade or two? Email us here with your thoughts.

***  

September 7

A Race to Leave?
Grey nomads stranded in Birdsville after rain washed out the iconic races will find out this morning if they can finally leave the outback town.
The Brisbane Courier-Mail reports that authorities are optimistic that one of the three main routes out of town - the 400km stretch of road north between Birdsville and Boulia - will reopen.
The roads east and south and the Simpson Desert track are not expected to be opened for at least a few days with more rain expected on Thursday and Friday.
The race meet - in its 128th year - was cancelled for the first time due to weather after a 32mm downpour last Friday night left roads muddy and impassable.
Diamantina Shire Council spokesman Brian Mooney said there was no mobile reception outside Birdsville, so drivers had to make sure their route was clear before departing.
"If the road opens it will be slow going and drivers will need to be patient," he said.
By all accounts spirits are still high among the ‘stranded’ travellers and it is certainly an experience they will all long remember.
Essential food supplies have been flown in to restock shops.
Over in Victoria, a caravan park near Shepparton is the latest to be evacuated as flooding continues to be a major issue for grey nomads and others.
The Murchison caravan park in the state's north-east.was emptied yesterday evening ahead of today’s expected flood peak when the Broken and Goulburn floodwaters converge. Up to 200 homes in the town could be affected by flooding.
The SES is also concerned about the threat to Horsham as the Wimmera River starts to wind its way through.
Sadly, it seems, not everyone is entering into the ‘let’s-pull-together-in-adversity’ spirit being shown in Birdsville and in most flood-ravaged Victorian towns.
Apparently, Clunes residents dealing with the clean-up from floods have had to cope with looters as well.
Clunes Caravan Park manager Les Eastcott said intruders ransacked a van on Saturday night, allegedly making off with a PlayStation.
He said would-be thieves were also disturbed trying to steal gas bottles.
"It's pretty lousy when people try to take benefit of some other person's misfortune," Mr Eastcott said.
Too right.
The town was hit by flash flooding on Saturday morning, when, in a couple of hours, the normally docile Tullaroop Creek turned into a torrent.
Have you been affected by the floods? Email us here to share your experiences.

***

September 6

Spring Storms In
Wild wet spring weather that has wreaked havoc across four Australian states … and grey nomads and other travellers have been well and truly caught up in the chaos.
Victoria has borne the brunt of nature’s fury and is bracing for yet more flood damage as bulging rivers continue to break their banks across the state's north and west, threatening hundreds more homes, businesses and properties… and closing roads.
As of yesterday, more than 250 houses had been affected by the worst flooding in the state for 15 years, but a number of rivers had not reached their peaks.
Victoria's flood crisis follows a weekend of severe weather that has seen the Birdsville races cancelled in Queensland for the first time; wild winds batter News South Wales; and hundreds of homes blacked out in South Australia.
In Victoria, extra police and army personnel were sent to areas under threat, such as Shepparton and Horsham, to help with sandbagging and other emergency measures.
Between 50mm and 200mm of rain fell across much of Victoria over the weekend, much of it onto already wet ground in the state's north.
The ABC reports that the sheer volume of rainfall overloaded the sewer system in the region, causing raw sewage to seep into rivers.
Floodwaters are expected to rise in Gippsland and the north-east, particularly around Benalla and Wangaratta, in what residents are calling the worst floods in more than a decade.
About 70 properties at Benalla in the state's north-east have been evacuated and the flooding has isolated some homes.
In nearby Nagambie, a caravan park has been evacuated, while floodwaters have cut off about 20 people at Dargo.
The manager of the Paradise Island Caravan Park at Wangaratta, Shane Downey, says the water levels are rising at a rate of about half a metre per hour.
"It's come over the levy bank from the Ovens River and it's also come through the back water," he said.
The park has been evacuated, but nearby houses are not currently under threat.
Floodwaters have also engulfed Wangaratta's Painters Island Caravan Park, with water levels not expected to peak in the region until tomorrow.
In the Goldfields region about 100 residents in the central Victorian town of Creswick have been relocated to the town hall after flash flooding, while 30 people from the Riverside Caravan Park in nearby Clunes have also been relocated.
In New South Wales, the weather bureau has warned of damaging winds with gusts of 90km/h for the Riverina, the ACT, South Coast, Lower Western, Southern Tablelands and Central Tablelands. The weather is also expected to affect parts of the Upper Western, Illawarra and South West Slopes.
In central Australia the iconic Birdsville races were postponed for the first time in their 128-year history after an unseasonal downpour flooded the track. According to weatherzone.com.au, more than 33mm of rain dumped on the Birdsville track, about 10km north of the South Australian border, early on Saturday morning.
Hopefully, all grey nomads caught up in the wild weather dramas will suffer nothing worse than an uncomfortable day or two and some adjustments to travel plans. Let’s all spare a thought for those living through the trauma of a flooded home or business.
Have you been affected by the weather chaos? Email us here to share your experiences.

***

September 3

Stop the Madness!
Any of you who have travelled north of Broome on the road to Cape Leveque will no doubt be sharing my sense of anguish at the news that Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett is to compulsorily acquire land there for a $30 billion Woodside Petroleum gas project.
The plant will be built at James Price Point, an incredibly beautiful camping and fishing spot that has been enjoyed by grey nomads and others alike for decade upon decade. This is Kimberley coastal wilderness at its absolute best. The turquoise coloured Indian Ocean is alive with marine life and the scenery is spectacular beyond belief. It is totally irreplaceable and its effective destruction unimaginable. Nearby Quondong Point is another gem of a camp and no doubt other communities like Beagle Bay and Cape Leveque and indeed the whole Kimberley region will be severely and permanently affected by this decision.
I am no politician and I am no economist and I know that jobs will be created by the plant but, as someone who has spent a lot of time in that part of the world and who genuinely loves its unique character and unique beauty, I instinctively know that this is a massive mistake that future generations will most certainly despise us if we allow it to happen. And the terrible thing is there are viable alternatives.
The WA Premier, Mr Barnett, says he has not taken the decision lightly. I should jolly well hope not!
However, some of his comments would seem to suggest that he isn’t as well informed as he should be.
He said the James Price Point site was "literally a pinprick" in the Kimberley, comprising only 2500ha on land that wasn't spectacular coastline! And he said the project would be developed to ensure as little environmental impact as possible.
Good luck with that, Colin!
“I have a responsibility to ensure that major investment projects, such as liquefied natural gas are not lost to this state,” he said. “Not only the investment but literally the hundreds if not thousands of jobs that they create for decades to come.”
However, local Aboriginal groups, environmental groups and a string of high-profile celebrities are preparing for battle.
Award-winning musician John Butler described the decision as “shocking” and said it would reverberate around the world.
"Some things are worth more than money," he said. "This is our land and our culture, this is one of the most pristine places in the world."
Hear, hear! John.
Environs Kimberley director Martin Pritchard said Mr Barnett, in his "rush to riches", has ignored community concerns about damage to the environment and to the local tourism-based economy.
"Compulsory acquisition of the land shows how desperate the premier is to industrialise this part of the Kimberley coast, regardless of the cost to traditional owners and the environment," he said.
He called on Woodside and its joint venture partners to abandon the James Price Point site and pipe Browse Basin gas south to the Pilbara. Australian Conservation Foundation spokesman Paul Marshall agreed. "This could be the thin end of the wedge for further industrialisation of the Kimberley, including bauxite and uranium mining," he said.
WWF spokesman Paul Gamblin said the government should be exploring other reasonable options such as piping gas to the Pilbara or processing gas offshore using floating platform technology.
And Greens Member for Mining and Pastoral Robin Chapple MLC accused the Premier of riding roughshod over the concerns of conservationists, local tourism operators and the Broome Shire Council.
“Having witnessed the destruction of the heritage values on the Burrup Peninsula as a result of the North West Shelf and Pluto gas developments, I am firmly of the opinion that James Price Point is a wholly inappropriate location on which to build the Browse gas hub, not to mention the industrial precinct that will inevitably follow,” he said.
Oh … but the Broome Chamber of Commerce says it will be a boost for local business and ensure the town's long-term prosperity. Well, I guess that’s all right then.
Shameful!
The compulsory acquisition could take up to 18 months and requires the Government to conduct formal negotiations with the Kimberley Land Council.
If you are concerned by this move I urge you to do what you can to prevent it from coming to fruition. Visiting the following sites would be a good start: Save the Kimberley and
Ten Reasons why Development should not go ahead
And, if you have not travelled in this part of the country yet, then I implore you to do so now … while you still can and while it is still paradise!
Any thoughts one way or another on the WA Government’s plans? We really want some feedback on this one. Email us here.

***

September 2

Wheel of Misfortune
Here’s one to make us all think. A pair of grey nomads on their way home to Victoria after three months in Bowen in Queensland, were lucky to escape serious injury after the wheels snapped off their caravan.
David and Vivianne New were travelling on the Bruce Highway on their way to Howard this week when the wheels and axle snapped about eight kilometres north of Marmor.
“It was pretty hairy,” the shaken driver told the Gladstone Obsrever. “It was bucking around back there like a bucking bronco.”
The couple was travelling at 85kmh when they heard a loud bang and saw lots of smoke. Three cars following pulled over to help. One driver told David the caravan leapt into the air and bounced around dramatically.
Marmor police attended the scene and a truck towed the caravan back to Gladstone.
It certainly seems like there’s been a spate of caravan/motorhome/grey nomad accidents over recent weeks in all corners of the country. Let’s all make sure we take care on the roads, do our regular maintenance and safety checks and get to where we’re heading safely.
Have you ever had an axle break while out on the highways, byways and tracks of Ausralia? Email us here to share your adventure.

***

September 1

Appreciated at Last
Surprise, surprise! Research has proved what we already knew … grey nomads provide a massive economic boost to regional areas. New figures suggest that we are spending an average of $386 a week per vehicle on things such as food, petrol and accommodation.
Rosemary Leonard, from the University of Western Sydney, said travelling retirees had become an essential source of revenue for Outback towns.
"If Outback towns can attract the travelling retirees and persuade them to stay in the region for an extended period, the grey dollar would be extremely beneficial for the local industries and the economy," she told the Brisbane Courier-Mail. "They often go 'round the block' and they tend to travel slowly and, if some run out of money, they just sit on the same spot until the pension comes through. They then have enough money for petrol and food for the next leg."
I hope all those caravan park owners and local authorities who begrudge grey nomads the odd free camp are reading!
Researchers from the university, Volunteering Australia and the University of Technology Sydney surveyed 314 grey nomads about their interests, goals and motivations.
And it seems our benefit to the community as a whole rather than just our financial input are also being recognised. Certainly, grey nomads who use their skills and experience as volunteer workers to boost the social life of regional communities are being acknowledged.
Researchers helped six towns in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia to build volunteer programs and monitored them for three years.
Professor Leonard said the programs were successful, not only because projects were completed but because grey nomads engaged with locals.
At Barcaldine in western Queensland, 33 grey nomads took part in 23 volunteer projects this winter. Projects ranged from painting the jump rails for the local pony club to helping out in school canteens and repairing furniture and facilities for hospitals, schools, churches and museums.
Douglas Stewart, the Barcaldine Regional Council grey nomad co-ordinator, said the program had been instrumental in attracting travellers.
"Every year a small group of grey nomads meet and stay on the Alice River in Barcaldine," Mr Stewart said. "The group consists of a number of couples who travel from as far afield as Tasmania."
Barcaldine Regional Council has produced a handbook to advise other communities on attracting grey nomads to their townships.