the Page 1 Issue 224: May 29, 2020 In this issue: •Painting the town red ... and lots of other colours •Lighten up •Park owners’ challenging start ‘We’re itching to hit the road’ – GNT readers Some state and territory borders may remain closed, but that isn’t going to stop grey nomads from hitching up and exploring closer to home. A whopping 94% of respondents to our recent GNT poll on the issue said they were chomping at the bit to hit the open road in their home state. Lindsay H from north Queensland could see some positives. “Southerners normally book out the north’s parks years in advance,” she said. “We hope to get a look in before they start streaming north.” Trev T was eager to get out into Outback towns to help the struggling people ‘doing it tough’. “We’ll be keeping away from the main travel routes though because there will be people aplenty out there aſter this isolation,” he said. Tom D was also keen … but slightly wary. “We’ll be heading out for sure,” he said. “But not too far from home … just in case of a second wave of the virus!” Frank G though probably summed up the mood best. “Feet are getting itchy!” he said. Click to comment Times Despite a couple of worrying recent outbreaks Australia’s coronavirus infection rate con- tinues to track firmly down- wards, liſting hopes that the grey nomad lifestyle will soon be back on the road. While there is no doubt that things won’t be quite the same again – at least until an effec- tive vaccine has been rolled out – pressure is growing on states and territories to liſt border restrictions and allow domestic tourism to flourish. While there is a clear eco- nomic argument for allowing caravanners and motorhom- ers back into the regions and across borders, many state and territory leaders are taking a cautious approach. e recent coronavirus-related death of a 30-year-old man in the small Queensland town of Blackwater will have done little to ease their worries. e fact that – at time of writing – it is unknown how or where the man contacted the virus is hardly reassuring. Having the virus take hold in regional Australia where health services are less well equipped to deal with an outbreak is one of the authorities’ greatest fears … and the reason grey nomads were so abruptly ‘ordered home’ back in March. Nonetheless, there has been clear progress on the health front since those early days and the crushing of the curve is seeing some travellers back at campsites and van parks, albeit within their home states. States like New South Wales and South Australia have already announced that people will be able to travel freely within state borders, and WA has significantly eased its re- strictions on regional travel. While the signs are good, there won’t be a sense that things are truly returning to something like normal until all internal borders are fully open again … and there is no clear sense of when that might happen. Despite intense pressure from tourism authorities, the Feder- al Government and other state leaders, the leaders of Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Ter- A ray of hope Australia is slowly opening up ... but grey nomads still need to proceed with caution ritory, and Tasmania are all refusing to be drawn on a date for re-opening their borders,. While places like the Territory are doing exceptionally well in fighting the virus, the lack of interstate travellers is having a massive economic impact. Grey nomads made up a huge portion of NT’s 420,000 domestic holiday visitors last year, and van park managers like Dani Walter at Hidden Valley Holiday Park say book- ings are down by as much as 90% this year. “We’re normally full this time of year but now we’re lucky to have six caravans who are semi-permanent, and I know some other parks who are doing worse,” she said. “We’re doing what we can to attract more locals by cutting prices in half but we’ll still struggle without the grey nomads.” Click to comment A sight for sore eyes ... RVs are returning to the road
Transcript
the
Page 1
Issue 224: May 29, 2020
In this issue: •Painting the town red ... and lots of other colours •Lighten up •Park owners’ challenging start
‘We’re itchingto hit the road’– GNT readersSome state and territory borders may remain closed, but that isn’t going to stop grey nomads from hitching up and exploring closer to home.A whopping 94% of respondents to our recent GNT poll on the issue said they were chomping at the bit to hit the open road in their home state.Lindsay H from north Queensland could see some positives.“Southerners normally book out the north’s parks years in advance,” she said. “We hope to get a look in before they start streaming north.”Trev T was eager to get out into Outback towns to help the struggling people ‘doing it tough’.“We’ll be keeping away from the main travel routes though because there will be people aplenty out there after this isolation,” he said.Tom D was also keen … but slightly wary.“We’ll be heading out for sure,” he said. “But not too far from home … just in case of a second wave of the virus!”Frank G though probably summed up the mood best.“Feet are getting itchy!” he said.
Click to comment
Times
Despite a couple of worrying recent outbreaks Australia’s coronavirus infection rate con-tinues to track firmly down-wards, lifting hopes that the grey nomad lifestyle will soon be back on the road.While there is no doubt that things won’t be quite the same again – at least until an effec-tive vaccine has been rolled out – pressure is growing on states and territories to lift border restrictions and allow domestic tourism to flourish.While there is a clear eco-nomic argument for allowing caravanners and motorhom-ers back into the regions and across borders, many state and territory leaders are taking a cautious approach.The recent coronavirus-related death of a 30-year-old man in the small Queensland town of Blackwater will have done little to ease their worries. The fact that – at time of writing – it is unknown how or where the man contacted the virus is hardly reassuring.Having the virus take hold in regional Australia where health services are less well equipped to deal with an outbreak is one of the authorities’ greatest fears … and the reason grey nomads were so abruptly ‘ordered home’ back in March.
Nonetheless, there has been clear progress on the health front since those early days and the crushing of the curve is seeing some travellers back at campsites and van parks, albeit within their home states.States like New South Wales and South Australia have already announced that people will be able to travel freely within state borders, and WA has significantly eased its re-strictions on regional travel.While the signs are good, there won’t be a sense that things are truly returning to something like normal until all internal borders are fully open again … and there is no clear sense of when that might happen.Despite intense pressure from tourism authorities, the Feder-al Government and other state leaders, the leaders of Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Ter-
A ray of hope Australia is slowly opening up ... but grey nomads still
need to proceed with caution
ritory, and Tasmania are all refusing to be drawn on a date for re-opening their borders,.While places like the Territory are doing exceptionally well in fighting the virus, the lack of interstate travellers is having a massive economic impact.Grey nomads made up a huge portion of NT’s 420,000 domestic holiday visitors last year, and van park managers like Dani Walter at Hidden Valley Holiday Park say book-ings are down by as much as 90% this year.“We’re normally full this time of year but now we’re lucky to have six caravans who are semi-permanent, and I know some other parks who are doing worse,” she said. “We’re doing what we can to attract more locals by cutting prices in half but we’ll still struggle without the grey nomads.”Click to comment
A sight for sore eyes ... RVs are returning to the road
Like many grey nomads, Rod LeNaine-Smith has had his caravanning plans thrown into chaos in recent months, thanks to the pandemic-inspired travel restrictions.However, he and partner Wendy Dowling are luckier than most in that they live in South Australia and so are al-ready being encouraged to hit the regions again. The couple has finally taken the hint and are taking their first baby steps back into the Big Lap lifestyle by spending a few days in the riverfront town of Morgan, 165 kilometres away from their Adelaide home.While intrastate travel has been allowed in SA for a few weeks, Rod and Wendy were reluctant to hit the road before now … for a couple of reasons.“We didn’t think it right to venture into the country while this virus is rather active,” said Rod. “While here is South Australia we have a very low rate of infection, we didn’t want to be part of catching it and spreading it around.”Following multiple days of zero new infections in the state, there was suddenly only one thing that was stopping the pair from hitching up … the temperature!“I don’t like temperatures be-low 18 degrees,” said Rod. “So we were waiting for a burst of somewhat warm weather.”
With the mercury forecast to be as high as a ‘balmy’ 21 de-grees in the next few days, the couple seized their moment.Rod and Wendy now travel in an Avan Aliner, having cut their travelling teeth in an Avan Sportliner. They first fell in with Avans while seeking a compromise between Wendy’s passion for tents and Rod’s desire for something a little more sturdy.“We didn’t want to take the ‘house’ with us so ruled out all the wonderful vans with bells and whistles,” said Rod. “We wanted a van that would be easy and safe to tow behind our two-litre car, easy to set up, easy to push into the ga-rage, and easy to get into and out of tight parking places.”They eventually decided the perfect solution was the small Avan Sportliner that they bought and fitted out. “We didn’t need the satellite TV, deep freeze and air-conditioning,” said Rod. “We wanted to experience camping
Issue 224: May 29, 2020Taking a first step
but not the bush-bashing.” Their shakedown trip was to Nuriootpa in the Barossa Val-ley, where they quickly decided that this was the life for them.“It was most enjoyable sitting outside with a glass of wine looking at the sunset and listening to the birds settling in for the evening,” said Rod. “We were smitten on the idea of travelling with a van, and knew we wanted to do longer trips and see Australia.”With more ambitious travel plans, the pair wasted no time in upgrading to an Avan Aliner and – once they have got a few more ‘training runs’ under their belt and border restrictions are fully lifted – they are excited to get off and live the dream.“We would really like to set off in about 12 months’ time on the ‘Half Lap’ … up the Centre and over to the west,” said Rod. “I haven’t heard of any small Avans doing it … but I am sure they have.”Click to comment
South Australians Rod and Wendy are back on the road ... but they’re not going far
Rod and Wendy enjoy the simple pleasures
Opening upParks and reserves across the Northern Territory will re-open from June 5 as restrictions ease. However, it is not yet clear when Kakadu National Park and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park will re-open.
Spirit moveThe Spirit of Tasmania ferry service is moving its Victo-rian port from Station Pier in Port Melbourne, to Corio Quay, north of Geelong. The new 12-hectare site will have a range of amenities and will be easier for travellers to ac-cess and to check into.
Leading the wayA survey by the Caravan Industry Association of Aus-tralia has found the camp-ing sector is likely to head the comeback as domestic tourism gears up again. The survey found that caravan-ners and campers are seven times more likely to take an immediate holiday than others when restrictions are lifted.
Park boostA popular caravan and camping park on the banks of the River Torrens in Adelaide has been ear-marked for redevelopment. Walkerville Council has put out a tender for a new Levi Park operator to revitalise the tourist accommodation precinct that caters for 700 visitors.
When you think of tourism what comes to mind? Is it perhaps travel, tours or maybe even lunch at the café or pub? In the industry we have a term we like to use and that is ‘visi-tor economy’. What it really means is every time you spend money in a regional area, you are making a big contribution to that community. This not only includes your meal at the pub, but also your groceries from the corner shop, petrol from the service station, bread from the bakery and meat from the butcher. It can even be the parts from the me-chanic or hardware store, and the donation to the local art gallery along with the little gift for each of your grandchildren. This all adds up and makes a big difference to that little town.Across regional Australia, a significant majority of these businesses are owned by ‘mum and dad operators’, and not only are they are part of their communities, they are the lifeblood of their communities. These business owners, just like all the staff they employ are ‘people’ people, and they have missed your cheerful smile as you walk through their door during your stay in their little town.While their excitement eagerly grows as they prepare to welcome you once again,
they are also a little bit anxious – remember they have been through a lot. For some of these communities, corona-virus comes off the back of a devastating summer of bush-fires and for some the chal-lenges of the several years of drought. For some communi-ties it is has been both. For this moment, it seems much of the country right now is receiving welcomed rain and the easing of travel restrictions.Updates are still coming through regularly and with the restrictions still varying quite a bit between each State and Territory, it is best to check Government websites for where you are planning on travelling. Leisure travel is now permitted within most areas, so now might be the best time to explore your own backyard. A couple of overnight trips may be just what you need to reacquaint yourself with being
Issue 224: May 29, 2020In this together
on the road once again.If you are looking for a little inspiration to travel further afield, there are endless op-portunities to create your next itinerary or virtually experi-ence parts of your next trip online or via Facebook. The options are only limited by your creativity as you whet your appetite to travel! So that’s got your feet itching to get on the road, but you’re not quite ready? You can always show your support by purchasing products online, or you buying gift vouchers (your promise to visit later). These are great ways to get money flowing back to our regions now, as they slowly get back into their normal rhythms. Aussies love to support Aus-sies. We encourage you to get out and support every town and region – we know they can’t wait to welcome you back! Click to comment
by Tash McQueen
The town of Inverell, NSW was hit by bushfires and the pandemicPic: Paul Foley; Destination NSW
The Birdsville Races has just become the latest in a long line of iconic Outback events to be cancelled. With social distancing restrictions in place across the country, great swathes of events and festivals much loved by travelling grey no-mads have been withdrawn from the 2020 calendar.These cancellations hit local communities hard and, in such an uncertain world, there is no way of knowing for sure how long it will be before they return … at least in a similar form to that which we have become used to.Another unknown is what the mindset will be amongst potential attendees … even when large-scale events are given the green light again.“The whole idea now of avoiding a crowd has almost become second nature,” said Professor Jolanda Jetten from the University of Queensland. “We’ve developed the habits of distancing and, to overcome that habit, we’re only willing to do that if we know it’s 100% safe.”
• Will you feel comfortable going to busy festivals and country shows when they are held again?
While some grey nomads are already tentatively getting back ‘out there’ or are anx-iously awaiting the opening of Australia’s internal borders before doing so, not all are ‘grounded travellers’ are quite as enthusiastic about a return to the road.Despite Australia’s apparent success in crushing the corona-virus curve, South Australians Hans and Ruth Graf are among those taking a more cautious approach. Over the past four years, the couple have taken numer-ous trips, often lasting several months, in their 2000 Roadstar Explorer … but that’s not go-ing to be happening again any time soon.“We think we are going to wait a while … maybe quite a while,” said Ruth. “As a semi-retired registered nurse, I guess I see the world beyond the desire to ‘get out there’.”The Grafs firmly believe that, even as we come through this pandemic crisis, the world will never be quite the same.“There is so much we do not know about the virus and, al-though many grey nomads do not see themselves as part of the vulnerable members of our community, their age alone puts them in that category,” said Ruth. “The other issue is the impact an outbreak would have on the small towns we
love to visit … many share one GP between them and, if the virus was introduced, their health system wouldn’t cope.”Hans and Ruth were lucky that when the full extent of the virus risk became clear and borders started to close, they had just returned from a trip.“We escaped the panic felt by many other travellers who needed to hurry home to iso-late,” said Ruth. “Or those that had no home base to hurry home to, as we still have our house.”But that doesn’t mean the pair didn’t share the disappoint-ment felt by so many grey no-mads when their future travel plans were abruptly curtailed.Hans, a retired property valuer, has made many modifications to their Roadstar in the years since they first bought it, and has it set up perfectly for their needs.“These changes made us self-sufficient as far as free camping
is concerned,” said Ruth. “And although we don’t have an onboard bathroom, we are able to deal with all our needs with portable bathroom facilities.” The couple sometimes used to take their granddaughters along on their shorter trips, and that is just one aspect of their adventuring they will miss over the coming months.“We particularly liked to travel along the coastline,” said Ruth. “We both love the sight, sound and smell of the ocean.”So, is there a chance they might be tempted to get back on the open road, after all? “Hans and I believe very strongly on reducing our impact on the planet, and that includes its residents,” said Ruth. “On that basis we will not be travelling until we are sure there will not be a second wave of infections and, if there is, that our health system is in a position to cope with it.”Click to comment
Ruth and Hans are in no rush to take another trip
until the coast is very clear
A photo of a feral cat car-rying a sand goanna in its jaws through the northern Simpson Desert has been discovered accidentally by researchers.Wildlife cameras had been set up to study decomposing animal carcasses at Ethabuka Reserve near the Queens-land-Northern Territory border when they captured the giant feline.“The cat with a goanna in its mouth was actually in the background,” said University of Sydney researcher Emma Spencer. “The large cat was walking behind one of our carcass cameras and we just happened to catch him with a great big sand goanna in its mouth.”The image was actually taken in 2018 but was only noticed during the course of the research this month.“This goanna could weigh up to six kilograms, that’s quite large prey for a cat,” she said. “But I definitely say that a cat that size would be very capable of taking out a sand goanna … though it is surprising, it is definitely possible that cat caught that goanna itself.”Click to comment
As travel restrictions are slowly eased, grey nomads who have been actively discouraged from hitting the road are once again being embraced by many local communities who have been desperately missing their economic input.When, at some stage in the future, internal borders are finally opened again this desire to attract tourists into regional Australia will inevitably reach new levels of enthusiasm.However, some experts such as John Warhurst, an Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University, predicts that some travellers may be a little less in-clined to accept the invitation.Writing in the Canberra Times, Professor Warhurst said that the border closures have come as a terrific shock to Australians who are used to travelling around the country freely. He said that fear of infection drove a remarkable level of compliance from the public at the peak of the pandemic. “Incoming travellers were seen to be a danger to the local community, whether they were foreigners to Australia, for-eigners to a state or foreigners to a region,” he said. “Foreign-ers of any sort were not wel-come … official health advice supported these fears.”
Professor Warhurst said that underlying that fear was a deeper suspicion in the minds of some people towards any-one who is not a local. “Within Australia, deeply rooted interstate and inter-regional suspicions exist, built on local loyalties and suspicion of outsiders,” he wrote. “These are easily recognisable at the state level … for instance in the attitude of Western Austral-ians towards the eastern states and of Queenslanders towards southerners, but they also ap-ply more generally.”Professor Warhurst argues that, despite the economic advantages to local communi-ties of travel and tourism, there
Issue 224: May 29, 2020Will it ever be the same?
remains some irritation that local lifestyles are disturbed by outsiders, even those outsiders who spend a lot of money. “This irritation is seen in trivial ways during normal times when tourists cause congestion on the roads and overcrowding in shops,” he said. “In times like the pandemic, the irrita-tion becomes anger directed at outsiders … locals make it abundantly clear that outsid-ers are unwelcome, some-times that anger is so strongly expressed that it becomes personal.”As restrictions on inter-regional travel ease further and interstate borders open in the coming months, Profes-
The places we choose to go and the way we travel may
be changed forever
sor Warhurst says it will be interesting to see how travel-lers react.“Ironically, once the closures are lifted great efforts will then be made by state governments, local governments, tourism authorities and individual enterprises to woo back tour-ists and holidaymakers,” he said. “Keep out. Pushed here. Pulled there. It would not be a surprise if many Australians become sick and tired of being used and abused as objects of economic recovery in a great big social experiment.”• Will you be as excited as ever to head into the regions once travel is encouraged again? Click to comment
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When Kev and Del Smaldon bought a small caravan park at Mount Larcom in Queensland two years ago, it was basically a dream come true.While admitting it was ini-tially ‘daunting’, the couple and their teenage son, Tom, set about transforming the park into a thriving venture that re-captured the magic of ‘real camping’, confident that it would bring grey nomads and other travellers flocking to their door.“We are trying to mimic the old-fashioned caravan park stays that we enjoyed as children, and that others too remember; with homely touches, personal service, friendly chitchat, board games, campfires, poetry and just generally a safe place to relax,” said Del. “We sold up and put our whole life sav-ings, and inheritance from our parents’ life savings into this venture and have been pouring our heart and soul into it to make it work.”Having dodged a bullet when bushfires narrowly missed taking out the park in 2018, the Smaldons thought that the future was bright and their hard work was going to pay off.Then came the coronavirus pandemic which obviously hit their business very, very hard. The couple though remains philosophical, and are grateful for the support they have had.“We initially had a lot of anxiety about the closure, the unclear timeframe, and recov-ery,” said Del. “But we have since been well supported in numerous ways and feel that
the whole situation has been managed very well, given that no one has faced a pandemic like this in our lifetime.”The couple are not dwelling on what has happened. Rath-er, as travel restrictions slowly ease and borders presumably open in coming months, they are focussed firmly on the future ... which they know will look a little different.“Our tiny town, as many others have been, is greatly impacted by the shutdown, and we are eager to be up and running again,” said Del. “We have enlisted the cafe, shop and pub in a joint ‘Love Larcom’ campaign offer-ing vouchers and discounts to guests over the coming months as lockdown meas-ures lift.”The Mount Larcom Tourist Park sits just off the Bruce Highway and is a member of the nomad-friendly Kui Parks group.“We have used the govern-ment advice and caravanning organisations to develop our Covid-19 health management
Issue 224: May 29, 2020Rising to the challenge
plan,” said Del. “It includes developing plans, procedures and documentation to ensure we meet all the recommended cleaning and safety recom-mendations, and that we have a plan in place to manage an outbreak should it occur in our park.”On a practical level that will mean more cleaning and more signage around the park about things like hand-wash-ing, social distancing, and symptom recognition.“We always had a very clean park and this extra work is time-consuming but, as a former nurse, I totally un-derstand the importance and responsibility in preventing and managing an outbreak, that it entails,” said Del. “As a potential guest I would feel more secure about cleanliness and Covid-19 management in a privately-owned caravan park, meeting all government and accreditation require-ments, rather than using shared amenities in a free camp or farmstay … maybe that’s a plus.”
Park owners have had a baptism of fire since they took over two years ago
Kev and Del (inset) bought the scenic Mount Larcom Tourist Park (left)two years ago. They had a near miss from a bushfire in 2018 and are now finding a way for-ward with Covid-19 restrictions
While Del’s nursing back-ground is coming in very useful, so too is Kev’s back-ground as a painter and decorator, not only for doing maintenance around the park but also for sourcing extra outside work to supplement their income during these challenging times.It’s certainly been a steep learning curve for Kev and Del but – despite everything – they insist they would not have it any other way.“We have colossal overheads, with insurance, rates and a large mortgage, and that’s besides the costs of linen, laundry, cleaning, stationery, phone and software, and we have a massive responsibility for health and safety in our park,” said Del. “We came in pretty blind from a manage-ment point of view, but I think we have risen to the challenge pretty well … and we just love chatting to all guests about their travel plans and experiences.”
Must have been an intense feeling for you both John and Lynette. I hope your health did not suffer too bad because of it all. You ended up have a bigger adventure that you an-ticipated it sounds like. I’m so glad you were offered the back yard to stay in though. I’m sure there are many people in Perth who would have helped you out if you had been stuck without that kind offer. All the best and don’t let it spoil your future plans. You’re much more experienced now. More than a lot of others, too.
Christine VWe spent some time in WA and the communities we visited enjoyed our patronage at premium prices. It is disap-pointing to hear that they could treat fellow Australians in such a callous way when the circumstances were out of their control. Perhaps, these communities will now suffer the loss of sources of income they once so unashamedly sought.
John CThis was all new to the WA Government, too. Of course, it wasn’t good what happened to John and hundreds of other grey nomads and backpack-ers but, to try and contain the virus, the borders had to close. We caravanners, all over Australia, are keen to get back on the road, but we will just have to stay put until we get the all-clear.
Judy GOur motorhome is our home and I think governments at all levels should recognise that being of no fixed address is a legitimate residential status. We were in a free camping
area when the lockdown oc-curred and on Easter Saturday the police arrived and told us to go home. I said I would be happy to move on but I needed somewhere I could go. They accepted that our stated residential address was not where we lived. Luckily, a local landholder had offered us a spot on his property and we have been here since Easter Monday.
Jim K
This was/is a global pandemic which obviously required immediate and decisive action and, as a West Australian, I am grateful for the leadership
the
we received from our Pre-mier. Because of his actions, WA is one of the ‘stand-outs’ in terms of getting a grip on the situation. That’s not to say we won’t have a second wave (heaven forbid) but, if it does happen, I feel confident enough to take off in our cara-van as we are allowed to cross the regions because I believe, if we do as we are asked, we will be ok. John could have been held up in worse places … WA isn’t too shabby!
Vicki SI agree with Lynette and John with the lack of notice about closures of caravan parks etc in WA. However, the Premier
About nine years ago, my wife Barbara (above) and I spent 15 months travelling around this wide brown land in our Paramount off-roader towed by a thirsty ULP LandCruiser, clocking up 35,000 kilometres along the way. We eventually sold the old Paramount and, after being vanless for 18 months, bought a 19’ semi off-road New Age Manta Ray which we tow behind a 2015 six-speed auto Ford Ranger 3.2 litre diesel. The open road is now calling once more … and we are getting toey to say the least. But, we keep telling ourselves, each day in isola-tion is one day nearer to taking off once more.
Len Sorrell
* Do you have a photo to share? Email it to us here together with a brief description of where it is and what it means to you.
gave notice about the state and intrastate borders closing. You were allowed to leave the state but would then have had to self-isolate in South Australia.
Mary & Ric KI think there was plenty of warning for interstate travel-lers to return home when the borders were closed between the states. There was also plenty of warning when the intrastate borders in WA were closed. WA has some large areas with a high aboriginal population that are at a greater risk from Covid-19 than oth-ers.
David M
Our story about the couple‘trapped’ in WA sparked quitea reaction from GNT readers
Re: Caravan rollovers. As a caravanner from way back with vans from 16’ to 22.5’, I have done my share of tow-ing. My thoughts on caravans nowadays are that they are too high and possibly unbal-anced. It appears that most caravan rollovers tend to take the tow vehicle with them. In the days gone by when I had override brakes, the coupling head could rotate. My thoughts are that, if I was unfortunate enough to get my caravan on its side, there was a possibility that the car may stay upright even though the rear would be in the air. We now have a 5th wheeler so, if it goes over, I reckon the ute is going with it. But the beauty of it is the stability, especially when pass-ing trucks. I feel very relaxed towing it.
Jim SRe: Cold travellers (Jaclyn & Heidi: GNT 223). The Swedes famously say that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. Honestly, anyone who is shivering through night and day is clearly inadequately dressed for the prevailing conditions. Whilst I am not too keen on the sub-zero temperatures that are a normal part of winters in the inland and especially the southern regions, there is much to enjoy such as a brisk walk, hot chocolate drinks, even mulled wine. Enjoyment is as much a state of mind as a set of circumstances. Make the most of every situation.
Alcopop Re: Lure maker (GNT: 223). Great stuff, Ned. Keep up the good work cob … and I love your lures!
Dennis BRe: Intrastate travel. We are from Victoria. With our self-sufficient van it would be great
to be able to free camp in Vic-toria until the borders open up, or stay in a caravan park using power and water but with the amenity blocks locked for virus safety. Fingers crossed it will happen soon.
Shani & Peter GRe: Refund time? Since we caravanners have, for some time now – due to Covid-19 restrictions imposed by our various state governments – been unable to travel with our vans and, depending on the state, this may extend for some time, would it be unreasonable to expect a pro-rata refund of registration fees from the respective state governments for the period of non-use? I think not.
Bob CRe: Mitchell Falls (Memorable Journeys: GNT 223). That’s exactly how it is – a story well
the
told, Alex. Australia did the same to me back in 1980 when we conquered Mitchell Falls on foot, then helicoptered out to make it back in time to King Edward River camp within the same day. Kimberley magic at its best … I can hardly wait to do it all over again! This place gets into your every vein, right into your very being. I am German but love Oz and have lived Downunder for 40 years … even so, not long enough as there is still so much more to explore.
Chris MNext time you are near the Bungles, take a helicopter flight as you see so much more than you can from the ground. Bloody exciting, too.
Chris TRe: Virus app (Survey GNT 223). From experience, if the Government wants you to have
it, then it is good for them and not so good for you.David (Ex-public servant)I can’t imagine my phone ever being within the required 1.5 metres for the minimum of 15 minutes to register the other person’s phone. Unless it’s at the bar Friday night at Pooncarrie!
Prado MIn these unprecedented times, and to help with controlling this virus and to get back on the road, everybody should be prepared to download the COVIDSafe app. For those worrying about the govern-ment or big business misusing the data or tracking their lives, don’t! For the sake of all of us missing the road, suck it up and get the app … it may just save your life or the life of oth-ers someday.
Colin P (Petho)
Wow! Many thanks to the hugely talented Gemma Anderson for sending in a photo of this completely unforgettable sculpture, which she has called ‘The Painted Lady’. Having had her camping adventures stalled by the health crisis, Gemma has used the extra time to re-discover her passion for clay model-ling. This Picasso-inspired work though was actually created decades ago and still occupies pride of place in Gemma’s home base in south-east Queensland. “I’m not sure the family im-mediately appreciated it,” she said. “It is quite startling … but I think it’s grown on them over the years!”Thanks to Gemma, and thanks to all GNT readers who sent in pics of their lockdown artworks in recent weeks.
Lockdown TV shows Grey nomads who have spent the last couple of months isolating at home have re-discovered the TV. Here is the unofficial grey nomad lockdown list:. 1. Full House
2. The Wonder Years
3. The Twilight Zone
4. Lost 5. Home and Away
Parked up puzzler
The Grey Area
If Hugh Jackman’s ‘Australia’ character, the Drover, was a grey nomad and had been told back in March that states were closing their borders, he would say:
a) What are you talking about? You got a filthy mind, lady.
b) Just because it is, doesn’t mean it should be. c) Welcome to Australia.
I’m the Drover Last week’s pic puzzle winner was Greg Cooke
Do You Know1. I am traveling directly between the Queensland towns of Goomeri and Gympie. Which highway will I spend the majority of my time on?
2. The West Australia ghost town once known as Tien Tsin was re-named Cossack in 1871: a) After explorer Alexander Smirnov, who was known as ‘Cossack’ due to his Rus sian heritage b) After the name of the vessel which brought the state governor, Sir Frederick Weld, to the area. c) After the touring Buffalo Bill’s wild west show ‘Cossack’ which had just arrived in Australia
3. Shortest road distance between Coffs Harbour in NSW and Canberra in the ACT. a) 525km b) 804kms c) 1283km
4. A Rainwater Tussle (anagram). What a state to get into? Not easy at the moment. 5. ‘I Go’ after a word for curve to find a Victorian town. Where did I find?
Answers on p. 12
Back on the road
Win grey nomad stickers!Email the solution to the puzzle. Winner announced in Issue 225 PIC CLUE: Grey nomads heading out into regional towns should get this:
Pulling powerWhile today’s bush camping grey nomads have significant-ly more power options than their trailblazing predeces-sors, when it comes to light-ing, travellers can never have too many back-up plans.So, if the sun’s not shining, the gennie won’t start, and the battery lamps have run out of juice, Outback adventur-ers may be glad they packed a NowLight, the latest creation from off-grid lighting innova-tor, Deciwatt.The ingenious device can eas-ily and efficiently be charged by the user. It has a looped cord which is pulled in a continuous motion and the kinetic motion creates the re-quired energy. The NowLight can apparently fully charge its 3,200-mAh LiFePO4 battery in under half an hour. Deciwatt says that just two minutes’ work creates enough power for more than 90 minutes of light at 20 lumens. It has a small display on its face which shows a readout of how much runtime is available, so campers have a chance to leap out of their campchairs and get energy generating before they are
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plunged back in the camping dark ages.The NowLight can also be charged by solar or mains power.The NowLight offers six individual light settings, ranging between a 5-lumen ‘night light’ and 160-lumen full-brightness mode. It also includes a USB outlet for powering or charging port-able devices such as mobile phones and radios. The lights have a ‘shower-proof’ IP33 water-resistant rating for use outdoors, but Deciwatt doesn’t recommend leaving them outside perma-nently.To enjoy light all around camp, travellers can link up to four small, orb-like ‘SatLights’ to a single NowLight. Each
Issue 224: May 29, 2020
SatLight includes a 5m cable and its own six-mode bright-ness adjustment.Deciwatt sees the NowLight having a strong use in devel-oping countries where reliable electricity is an issue, but there is no doubt that they can also add a potentially use-ful string to a grey nomad’s power bow.A full kit with NowLight, SatLight, solar panel and DC charging cable costs US$109. For US$60, buyers can also donate a kit to a family dis-placed by natural disaster or conflict.
• Do you need another lighting option, perhaps for when you drop the van to go off on a tent-ing adventure?
Click to comment
NowLight (above) is charged up by
continuously pulling a cord (right)
Website highlights
Rest stop closed
Recently our website www.thegreynomads.com.au reported that in what may be a sign of things to come, a free overnight rest stop for caravanners has been closed in an effort to help support local businesses in the wake of the economic carnage caused by the Covid-19 pan-demic. Following a presen-tation from a local caravan park, the Shire of Plantagenet in southern Western Aus-tralia has voted to close its recreational vehicle parking area in Mount Barker for at least six months.Click to read more
While some struggling com-munities might have crumbled in the face of a succession of crushing setbacks like devas-tating bushfires and a once-in-a generation pandemic, the Victorian town of Yarram was never going to be one of them.When the going got tough, the South Gippsland town got going … and it brought a giant creative vision to reality by turning itself into a giant work of art.Spray can in hand, world-renowned street and silo artist, Heesco Khosnaran, took to a crane and – over a six-week period in March and April – totally transformed the streetscape.Building after building was painted with stunning and evocative images, which organisers are confident will bring grey nomads flocking to town when borders are opened and travel restrictions fully lifted.The project was the brainchild of local Yarram Identity, Eric Greenaway, who saw an op-portunity to attract the large numbers of tourists who fol-low ’Silo Art’ and ’Street Art’ trail.Two-and-a-half hours drive south-east of Melbourne, Yar-ram – which has also become known as Heesco Town – is a major service centre for coastal communities in Gipps-land, and is also the ideal base from which to explore the cool temperate rainforest of Tarra Bulga National Park, the historic fishing village of Port Albert, the highest single span falls in Victoria, Agnes Falls, and the start of the world’s second-longest uninterrupted beach, 90 Mile Beach.
Yarram also sits just along from Corner Inlet, a 1,550-hectare park located to the north and east of Wilsons Promontory National Park.The South Gippsland Highway passes through the picturesque town of just over 2,000 people, opening into a wide boule-vard through the town centre with attractive gardens in the central strip. Yarram features several historical buildings, including the landmark Regent Theatre (built in 1928), the courthouse which now functions as a local visitor information centre and gallery, and the Federal Coffee Palace now adorned with a feature mural by Heesco. Yarram Golf Club has recently been rated Australia’s number one volunteer-run golf course, and the recently opened Bull Bar & Gallery in the main street is a delightful funky bar and gallery that features Heesco’s paintings both inside and out.The Yarram Memorial Gar-
Issue 224: May 29, 2020Art of attraction
dens, located at the southern end of the town’s commercial centre feature water attrac-tions and pathways. At the northern entrance to town there is a picnic area which is based around the old bridges over the Tarra River and overlooks this waterway and surrounding grazing land.There is a collection of good caravan parks in the area including the Yarram Holiday Park, the Tarra Valley Cara-van Park, Best Friend Holiday Retreat, and Woodside Beach Caravan Park. Many grey nomads will be delighted to hear there is also some great free camping. Self-contained RVs can stop in Yarram at the roadside reserve beside the Tarra River, and also at the Port Albert foreshore area near the water tower. Other free camping is available at Won Wron White Women’s Waterhole Campsite, and at the Reeves Beach foreshore camping area.
Despite the challenges then, these are exciting times for Yarram which cannot wait to start welcoming grey nomads from out of state.Local filmmaker, Wayne Tindall, who co-ordinated the mural project said the town had used art as ‘its secret weapon against a potential tourist downturn, depression and financial ruin’.“In some ways the lockdown has assisted the Heesco Town founders to make a tantalis-ing offering to travellers who are now looking for ‘new vista road trips’ rather than the quick and easy flights to overseas resorts,” he said. “Post Covid-19 travellers will welcome all that Yarram has to offer, and the town under-stands travellers will offer a major boost to the economy of this region.”• Will Yarram be on your ‘must-visit-when- I-get-back-on-the-road’ list? Click to comment
The Alberton Pub (right) gets a makeover Heesco Khosnaran (below left)has created many murals (below right)all over the town of Yarrum
Dear Jaclyn and Heidi,We had to rush back to NSW from the west when this coro-navirus crisis started unfolding. Apart from the stressful trip home and all the uncertainty, we were also incredibly disap-pointed that our dream trip had been prematurely ended. We were five months into it and having the time of our lives, and were just looking forward to heading up to the Kimberley. Now that things are looking more promising, hubby Tom is already talking about ‘when’ we can get back out there again. If I’m being completely hon-est though, I’m enjoying being home a lot more than I thought I would, and sort of feel like I’ve done the big trip thing. I’d have loved to have carried on when we were there, but since we’ve actually been forced to come home … well, I kind of like it here.
Rhonda
Home or away? Eeek, Rhonda. I guess you’re wondering how you tell an obviously excited Tom that you’re having your doubts. Not an easy one, especially as you obviously took to life on the road when you were actually ‘living the dream’. Although, I am sure he will be disappointed that you’re not as eager as he is to hitch up the van again, I think you’d be doing him a far bigger disservice if you don’t talk it all through. Yes, things are looking more promising in terms of the virus infection rates, but who knows how long it will be until all borders are open? Why not just enjoy being home and also enjoy a few shorter trips, as allowed. Who knows, you may even find that you’ll be chomping at the bit to do the ‘big one’ in another year or so. One step at a time, Rhonda … and communicate!
Jaclyn
Jeepers, creepers, Rhonda … take a chill pill. You’ve had a stressful drive across a continent towing a caravan in the midst of a once-in-a generation pandemic. I’m not surprised you’re enjoying be-ing home! Don’t rush to find the next problem as I suspect you’re still processing the last one. With borders closed, trav-el restrictions in place, social distancing a fixture of life for a while, and the virus still active in Australia, you are more than entitled to be cautious about returning to the road. Just talk to Tom. These are highly uncertain times and we all have different perspectives and feelings. You don’t have to make big decisions right now, Rhonda, and I am sure Tom understands that. You may find yourself feeling totally dif-ferent about everything in six months’ time and, if you don’t, well then you don’t.
HeidiClick to comment
Issue 224: May 29, 2020
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CLASSIFIEDS
FOR SALE
Mystery location: Iss 223 Cape Le Grande NP Winner: Peter Constable
FOR SALE ADSDo you have a rig, a prop-erty or some camping items to sell?Email us here to find out how to advertise your items on our website and newsletter
MARYBOROUGH, QLDSelf-contained travellers/grey nomads: We need some HELP … So we are offering a caravan or motorhome site, power and tank water in exchange for various light duties which may include any of the following or similar: Tidying yard, picking up sticks for campfires, weeding, tidying shed, sorting tools, equipment & materials, whipper snipping, mowing etc. Also, negotiable paid work available for someone with proven experience with carpentry or to assist house restumping. Both the town and the black water dump is approx. 20 minutes away in Maryborough Qld. What the property has to offer: Picturesque, 70 acres on river front-age, bush & river walks, fishing and bird watching. A few cows with calves, a quiet male-dog and one free roaming old Chookie.This would suit easy going, healthy retired persons, tidy habits, non or discreet smok-ers. Social quiet drinkers. Pet negotiable.Most suitable from the 8th June 2020. Click here.***BAN BAN SPRINGS, QLDWe are seeking a fit couple to help with the upcoming avocado season. Job will involve both packing shed and field work a forklift ticket would be a bonus but is not a neces-sity. Job would start mid June and finish mid August, hrs will be dependant on markets and weather. We are situated at Ban Ban Springs 1.5 hrs from Bundaberg. COVID safe environment. Click here.***DARWIN, NTDarwin Clay Target Club is currently seeking a live in caretaker starting mid to late July (couple preferred) with their own caravan / bus or similar. DCTC is situated at 205 Abala Road, Marrara. In lieu of free rent, power and water duties will include watering and mowing of grounds, upkeep and cleaning of clubhouse, setting up for practice and shoot days. Applicants will require current NT police check. Click here.***MID-NORTH COAST, NSWLooking for a single or couple with self-sufficient accommodation to assist with farm work on a small organic farm on the mid-north coast. Work includes tractor driving and maintenance as well as some general farm work. Medium to longer term stay preferred. We can provide power and water in a beautiful safe and quiet setting.Click here.***
PROPERTY SALE NEWMAN, WAOasis@Newman, an accommodation facility located just 7kms south of Newman, is looking for a Handy Man and Cleaner/Recep-tionist. Both applicants will need to be hard working with a good work ethic and com-mitment to health and safety. We would love our Handy Man to have some experience in lawn and garden maintenance, reticulation, and carpentry with your key responsibilities being site maintenance, fuelling of genera-tors, general handyman duties such as light plumbing etc and looking after a waste water treatment plant. A successful cleaning applicant will have experience housekeeping within accommodation facilities with excel-lent communication skills and computer/office experience as well. A positive attitude, friendly personality and customer service skills are also vital. Additional capabilities as a dining room attendant and/or kitchen hand would also be favourable. In return Oasis@Newman will provide a fantastic and friendly work environment with accommodation and meals as well as remuneration. We are looking for people to join our team as soon as possible and length of employment can be negotiated depending on applicants situ-ation. Click here.***GEORGETOWN, QLDLocated on the Gilbert River near George-town, North Queensland, we are seeking a couple to give us some help in return for free beef, power, water, wifi and a great place to stay. We are a young family of four and preferably one of the grey nomad couple will have a background in nursing or similar to be around when my elderly mother possibly visits for a few weeks. Otherwise there are a few odd jobs you can do to fill in time. Please contact me any time to discuss further. Click here.***GASCOYNE AREA, WACaretakers needed in Gascoyne Region for end of June 2020 for 2 months or possibly longer. Room for a caravan or 2. General house & yard maintaining to oversee of 4 small apartments & one large house (not much lawns or garden …very basic). Some handy skills also appreciated. Click here.***MOUNT HELENA, WAI’m looking for a couple or single person/people to park up on my property 5ac in Mount Helena. I’m needing a hand to get my property in order and possibly would like an-other shed built. So looking for very handy people to reply if possible. I’m thinking 10 hrs per week negotiable help for free power & plot. Beautiful bush block plenty of trees to park under for shade and privacy. We are a very easy going flexible happy family look-ing for similar folk. Click here.***PILBARRA CATTLE STATION, WAWanted: Builder-Handy Man & Versatile Partner. Pilbara Cattle Station looking for couple as Builder-Handy Man & Versatile Partner with options of Station Stay Camp Host, Cook &/or Cleaner. Job for builder is to renovate dongas plus routine maintenance. Accommodation provided or live in own caravan with amenities supplied. Click here.***
WINDSOR, NSWFarm sitter wanted for approximately 3 months from mid to late May until mid-August for a 16hectare (40 acre) hobby farm near Windsor, NSW. Enjoy absolute Hawkes-bury River frontage while only 60 minutes from Sydney CBD. A . Click here.
DARLING DOWNS, QLDWe are looking for farmsitters (presently residing in Qld) to stay at our 160 acre farm-ing property 5kms west of the township of Nobby Qld. Looking for preferably a couple and definitely with their own caravan/mo-torhome. Toilet, shower and laundry facilities would be available if needed in the main house plus water and power connections. The farm sit would involve providing a se-curity presence, checking on our small herd of cattle, feeding chooks and watering and maintaining our small vegetable/fruit garden. Our property is in a very scenic location, close to Nobby, 12kms from the township of Clifton and 40kms from Toowoomba. Farm sitting dates required are from about 12 June until end of July 2020. These dates could change depending on the Old Govern-ment’s travelling limits expanding.Click here.***BUNDABERG ORCHARD, QLDHousesitter wanted from first week of July, caring for 2 dogs, two horses and some watering and mowing if necessary, non smokers please with no pets. We reside on 75 acres and have a dragon fruit orchard and a small citrus orchard. We are situated 15mins from Bundaberg. We are looking for folk with their own van. They would have access to power and water and their own bathroom facilities. A long term arrange-ment may be possible. Click here.***RENMARK, SAWe are again looking for house sitters for as long a you want to stay. We are all time trav-ellers and require house sitter for our little property, looking after gardens and veggie garden for use by all – we are situated 6klms from RENMARK in South Australia. Limited drinking water, plenty of water for gardens and washing, clothes, use of toilet, shower, washing machine, small pets welcome ( none to look after). Click here.***MILDURA, VICI’m looking for someone to house sit my home in Mildura, from mid-June for up to three months, while interstate taking care of family affairs. Located close to the river and city heart in a quiet area, a friendly cat and low maintenance garden are the only things requiring care. Two small dogs live here too (so there’s an enclosed yard for your travel-ling pooch should you have one) however I would be taking them with me while away. I would be returning for short periods during the three months to check in on family. There is room for off street caravan parking.Click here.***
MALLEE AREA, VICSafe rural parking place for stranded / lockdown interstate grey nomads. In small Victorian Mallee hamlet with NO shops or petrol. Closest services and shops including a Doctor’s surgery and Hospital are 21km away in Rainbow. Reasonably close to SA border as well as NSW border – about 3 hours drive away to each. Land offered is a former (demolished) house block – one-third of an acre – open grassed, a couple of trees and not boggy, on a gentle slope. Private, securely fenced with easy rear gravel lane access. (Rear gateway is approx 12ft wide.) Neighbours close-by on one side only.Comes with a rustic (but clean) amenities area having septic tank, flushing toilet, hand-basin, deep bath with shower. Click here.
