Having their ‘camp’ come under some sort of attack is the stuff of nightmares for grey nomads who like to seek out free and cut-price camping spots around the country.
Happily, Australia is one of the safest places in the world to travel and camp in … but unsavoury incidents do occur from time to time.
For example, a car and tent have just been damaged in a slingshot attack at the Lake Canobolas camping ground near Orange in the New South Wales’ Central West.
Police say the incident occurred in the middle of the afternoon on Sunday and that there was nothing to suggest at this stage that nearby residents were involved. Investigations are continuing.
The local council has, for some time, been considering improving the facilities at Lake Canobalas to attract more grey nomads and other travellers.
For the most part, the worst grey nomads have to put up as they travel are inconsiderate fellow campers who talk or play music too late, or local youths visiting an area to ‘party’.
Do you ever feel unsafe when you camp? What is the most frightening experience you have had? How do you try to minimise the risk of problems? Comment below.
One thing is for sure. The more happy grey nomads are about, the less likely weirdos with slingshots will be about.
I have been approached in the middle of the night while sleeping in my station wagon at a rest area. Fortunately I was able to scare away the potential attacker because at the time a citizen was still allowed to protect himself with a weapon. Today you are not allowed to protect yourself and the law doesn’t protect you either.
a compound bow is not a classified weapon nor is a speargun or handspear
This is one incident, about 2 years ago within the enclosed confines of a caravan park at Culburra and incident occured where the caravan park security officer was stabbed. The offenders, were aged as I understand it in their early teens, 13 -14 years old.
So even in the confines of a supposedly secure caravan park with security it seems that one is not safe.