Rightly or wrongly, grey nomads are often named as chief suspects in one of the most heinous and oft-repeated Outback crimes … toilet roll theft!
Public conveniences and van park amenities blocks in the bush have long been fighting an uphill battle to keep toilet roll holders stocked … but one Queensland town is turning the tables on light-fingered travellers. Rather than seeking ways to prevent ‘alleged’ grey nomad culprits fleeing the facilities with their ill-gotten gains, Tambo has decided to give loo rolls away.
After coming to terms with the fact toilet paper pilfering was just a fact of life, a local business group has turned a negative into a positive and is handing out more than 3,000 rolls of soft tissue wrapped in a promotional sleeve to visitors.
Tourism and Business Association secretary Mary Mangan told Queensland Country Life, the group had decided that rather than making the culprits feel guilty, it would be better to be known as the town that says: “We love our visitors, here’s a little something to remember us by”.
‘Totally Tambo’ toilet rolls are being distributed by key businesses and tourist attractions in the town, and organisers feel it will encourage a lively conversation about Tambo in caravan parks across the west, and help to promote their region.
But while Tambo has come up with an innovative solution to the loo roll theft epidemic, other towns are not so lucky.
The general manager of the Outback Queensland Tourism Association Peter Homan says it remains a real issue … and is no laughing matter.
“Imagine if it was you that had no paper,” he told Queensland Country Life. “We have lots of space in the outback to do your business but be prepared … tourists should be adding toilet paper to their list of essential items to pack, along with water and a spare tyre.”
You’d have to be bloody tight or hard up to knock off dunny paper,I hope they are the ones caught out without any
This is NOT grey nomads taking toilet paper. Most oldies become very fussy about the feel and texture of toilet paper for a very good reason. It would be automatic for them to ensure they carry their own personal paper preference.
Totally Tambo Toilet rolls are available now in Tambo
Come and visit and get one of your own 🙂