A grey nomad gold star to the NSW town of Wingham which has just erected a sign welcoming campers … and it ain’t gonna cost overnighters a bean.
It was only last August that the Greater Taree City Council put up a very different sign in the area warning that camping was prohibited. However, the Wingham Advancement Group (WAG) and community members campaigned hard, arguing that grey nomads and others would start giving the Mid North Coast town a miss if things didn’t change.
Their persistence paid off. The council recently approved overnight stays of self-contained vehicles at Wingham Foreshore Recreation Reserve, and a bright new sign now proudly reads: “Wingham Riverside Reserve: overnight parking; self-contained vehicles are welcome to park in this location overnight. Enjoy your stay!”
Hooray!
The Wingham Chronicle reports that a steady stream of ‘grey nomad’ travellers frequent the spot.
And Wingham’s Citizen of the Year, Ron Sky, is delighted to see them all. Ron apparently attends the reserve daily to open and close the toilet facilities, clean the barbecues and pick up rubbish. He also welcomes travellers to town and hands out brochures with local tourism information and contact numbers.
Onya Ron!
“They come because it’s a free camp and the spot is as picturesque as any in Australia,” Ron told the Chronicle. “Campers say this is magic. We’ve had people come back to stay three times.”
Ron and his wife Leonna apparently have their own campervan and travel up to nine weeks each year.
They say that, wherever possible, they stay in towns that offer free overnight stays. Although not paying for their accommodation, they said they spend money in each town at restaurants, cafes, supermarkets and on fuel for their van.
Isn’t it nice having influential people who truly understand what life on the road is like?
Should ratepayers send all councillors on a trip around Australia so they understand the issues at hand?
GREAT TOO SEE wish there more of it……. maybe other councels will take note……good to see B
Great work Ron these councils just do not realise how much we spend in there towns & if they used there heads ? we would spend a lot more in the town if it was 3 nights, could service to our rigs / fuel / Site seeing the area restaurant’s & food supply’s . One day they well wake up there over 500,000 of us out there.
Great place, have stayed there a few times. Ron gives you his mobile number and if and body harrasses take their plate number and ring him with it and he says they will sort it out.
If I remember correctly, that area is right next door to a major bat colony that stinks like hell hehe. Nonetheless, it’s a great idea and I hope other councils follow suit.
Great stuff Wingham council (Never thought I”d say that about a council) Don’t hold ones breath about the other greedy so and so’s
excellent to see..
I will make sure that this is on my “must stay here” list whilst traveling down from FNQ
thank you Wingham Council
We are planning a trip from Brisbane to Cairns and then back down the east coast and across the bottom then over to Perth and u to Broome and then back to Perth in a RV rental. Any suggestions of routes, free camping spots, and other advice would be appreciated. We are thinking of an rv for 8 weeks. Any thoughts?