Happy Days! Who misses those glorious Easters of times gone by when kids would race around camping areas and caravan parks on their bikes?
Easter is normally a time when caravan parks and camping grounds are overflowing with holidaymakers … but this year is going to be very, very different.
Instead of potentially tripping over children’s bikes on their way to the amenities block, or listening to happy family chatterings – sometimes ‘too late’ into the evening – grey nomads will find van parks eerily quiet and weirdly subdued.
It’s a sign of just how much the Big Lap has changed that even the grumpiest of older travellers will desperately miss those occasionally annoying sights and sounds.
The holiday period is famously a time when grey nomads must share their idyllic lifestyle – albeit temporarily – with those still working. But there won’t be a caravanner or mortorhomer anywhere in Australia who wouldn’t happily go back to a time when their biggest worry was a happy social gathering that went on past 10pm, or the fact that the kid from Site 46 whizzed by too fast on his scooter.
This year is going to be different.
There will be patrols out stopping people from going to caravan parks. In New South Wales, police have already said they will be targeting roads in regional areas in a bid to turn back Easter holidaymakers.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said police were already visiting caravan parks and camping grounds across the state making sure people were adhering to social distancing orders ahead of the long weekend.
“The big focus will be on our country roads, those backstreets, the main highways, the caravan parks right across country New South Wales,” he said. “Police will be patrolling those … people will be given one opportunity to pack up, go back to your home state and go back home or otherwise, we will, unfortunately, have to issue tickets.”
Under the current public health orders, people who travel to regional NSW to visit family or friends may face heavy penalties.
Individuals face on-the-spot fines of $1000 of up to $11,000, or imprisonment for six months, or both and a further $5500 penalty may apply for each day the offence continues.
The exception at caravan parks and camping grounds includes for persons working in the local area, or those – like many grey nomads – whose primary places of residence are temporarily unavailable.
When we travel I miss the grandchildren terribly. Our travelling plans were put on hold over this virus so thought that I could visit the grandchildren. But not now no essential travel. I now help my daughter with home schooling over Zoom by listening to them read and with their spelling lists. My daughter photocopies the pages of the book so I can follow them. It will be strange not seeing them over Easter.
As unfortunate as it may appear, I am very pleased the authorities are being firm. The consequences of recalcitrants is that the Grey Nomad will bear the brunt of their ignorance and arrogance. I’d rather do some social isolation now to avoid a bigger problem tomorrow. I hope all Australians abide by these requests and put the national interest ahead of their own.
I know of a few backpackers those on work visa’s staying in some free camping areas’ nearby, as they cannot afford to pay rent, have not got money for flight home, and are living the best way can, in there camping areas. Most got in before the lockdown. I have spent some of the money I got from the initial stimulis to buy bulk food for them, that goes not require refrigederation, stuff like potatoes and flower, enough to see them through at least a month. They were grateful. I also got them powdered milk, mainly staples. I will help them out again, when and if they need it. The government should not let there people starve. This thing they say, they must have 18 months worth of money up their slieve, is a fallacy, it is very expensive to live in the city paying for your education living costs etc and some of the people out here, have been kicked out because they could not pay rent. I will help them as long as I can.
Your a good person Ric.
Times are tough for everyone and you are very fortunate to be able to afford to feed others. Every single person in Australia has been given plenty of information and warning of the restrictions before they take place and all backpackers were told they should return home so the ones that are still here have chosen to be here because I’m sure here in Australia with your kind food donations and all other help is far better than where they could and should be.