Your news and views? Email us at [email protected] the Issue 173 Times May 25, 2018 In this issue: •Headway in camp lighting •Getting a good night’s sleep •Making tracks in Tasmania ‘Roos don’t scare us!’ – GNT readers They’re big, they bounce, and they can be unpredict- able, but a kangaroo’s pres- ence doesn’t scare most grey nomads. Can you spot the difference Only 20% of respondents to between the Peterborough RV our recent GNT survey on Park sign in March (above) and the issue reported they had the Peterborough RV Park sign two ever been intimidated by the months later (right)? iconic marsupial while on the Big Lap. One of them was Cynthia K, who remembers getting the heebie jeebies in the south- Above & beyond west on her last trip over. “Of course they scare me,” Some towns are pulling out was swift … and eye-catching! cussion turns to grey nomad she said. “They’re huge, they all the stops to make grey A giant ‘WELCOME’ has been friendly towns, Julia Creek, don’t always jump out of the nomads feel welcome added to the ‘offending’ sign, west of Townsville in outback way, and they’ve got mean and the message is clear. Queensland is a name that eyes!” In the battle for grey nomad “Peterborough loves having inevitably crops up. The Julia However, Jim K, who has hearts, there continues to be RV visitors,” said the Mayor Creek RV Friendly Rest Area hunted in the bush for most communities that stand out of the District Council, Ruth offers self-contained vehicles a of my life says that, like most from the crowd in their readi- Whittle. “The new sign reflects free 96-hour stay, and travel- wild animals, kangaroos ness to go ‘above and beyond’. our genuine wish that visitors lers are even offered the free don’t let you get too close. At a time when many free to our town and RV Park do use of bicycles so they can “The exception is in urban camps are in danger and the feel welcome.” explore. Perhaps most impres- areas where people feed value of the ‘grey dollar’ is Of course, Peterborough is not sive of all is the way in which them or try to pat them,” he sometimes questioned, towns alone in bending over back- the McKinlay Shire works with said. “I have seen quite large like Peterborough in South wards for grey nomads. the Julia Creek Caravan Park numbers at some caravan Australia still insist on ‘show- The free camping area at the for everyone’s benefit. The van parks but my advice is that, ing the love’. recreation reserve at Kimba on park hosts weekly bush din- if you have the urge to pat Despite its growing grey South Australia’s Eyre Penin- ners at which free campers are an animal, find someone nomad-friendly reputation, sula has exploded in popularity more than welcome. that has a dog or a horse.” the powers-that-be in Peter- and the town is very happy. And the verdict … it’s a win- Graham W was equally borough were stung by mild “The overall economic benefit win! unfazed. criticism of the tone of its RV to Kimba as a result of offering • Help us recognise the country “They don’t worry me,” Park sign. free camping facilities far out- communities which go above he said. “Nor will they When a GNT reader men- weighs the minimal forecast and beyond to make grey no- until they start carrying tioned recently that the sign, cost to council to maintain mads feel welcome. firearms!” and its long list of rules and re- the area,” said Kimba District Email us here to tell us which strictions, didn’t make him feel Council mayor, Dean Johnson. towns have made you feel Click to comment ‘warm and gooey’, the response And, whenever campfire dis- ‘warm and gooey’, and why. Page 1 Your news and views? Email us at [email protected] the Issue 173 Times May 25, 2018 Nomads in Brief So close! I weep for Campervan crash A train has crashed into a campervan on the Summer- what may have been land Way north of Kyogle in New South Wales. The crash ‘Life on the open road isn’t happened at the Wiangaree always perfect … but never level crossing. It is un- forget how lucky you are!’ derstood the male driver managed to escape from his Sometimes, even the most vehicle before the freight cheerful grey nomad can be train smashed into it. guilty of taking their incred- ible lifestyle for granted. Crab crisis Amid the frustrations of A mud crab war is appar- things like high fuel prices, ently brewing in North or a busy free camping area, Queensland waters with or impatient motorists, or threats of violence and pots even a puncture, it is easy to being slashed. Anecdotal Dave and Jackie were excited to hit the road in their new van lose sight of the big picture. reports of local conflicts Those lucky few who are able for-purpose van to buy,” said newly built pad area … we have come to light in the to travel long-term in one Dave. “We chose a 2016 17’6 were going places.” wake of a state Department of the safest, friendliest, and Cobra off-road van (made The couple were incredibly of Fisheries discussion pa- most beautiful countries in the by Brilliant) from Bellarine excited for their first big trip per in looking to introduce world are truly blessed. Caravans in Corio Victoria. which was to be across to a ‘harvest strategy’ for all For every traveller out there It looked great, the price was Perth with stopovers along the fisheries by 2020. living the dream, there are right and our Triton would Bight, and then up the west many others who ‘didn’t quite pull it with ease.” coast, and across the Top. Jack-knife! get around to it’, or who were The excited couple then went But then everything changed. A four-wheel drive ve- prevented from doing so by ill out shopping and bought “First our farming enterprise hicle towing a caravan health, or death, or financial camping chairs, mats, kitchen unexpectedly failed and we jack-knifed on the Pacific disaster, or one of a number of items, a Weber Baby Q, found it impossible to find Highway off-ramp north of other unexpected events. proper bedding and comfort- work in town or close by,” said Lennox Head in NSW. No The next time a frustrated ers, brooms, toilet chemicals, Dave. “Bills soon got harder to one was injured in the inci- traveller is complaining about hoses, electrical cords, buck- pay and, after 10 months of it dent which caused a traffic a lack of shade at the campsite, ets, a set of Clearview Mirrors, being parked up, we sold the snarl-up or the waiting time for a ma- a Stone Stomper rock protec- van to pay the bills.” chine in the van park laundry tor, two jerry cans, an Ascent Even now, Dave and Jackie find Cull cancelled room, or noisy children at a Canopy for the Triton, inbuilt it hard to fathom how quickly A proposed cull of wild free camp, nearly-was-a-grey- slide out drawers for the Tri- their dreams unravelled. horses in the Kosciuszko nomad, Dave B, is urging ton Tub and much more. “In the blink of an eye, it was National Park is being them to count their blessings. “We picked up the van after goodbye holidays, goodbye scrapped and any future A year or so ago, as Dave and eight months waiting for the money, goodbye dream,” said culling will be outlawed his wife Jackie neared their build and drove to Melbourne Dave. “Now I have a bin full of under plans from the New 60s, they decided it was time to pick it up and get the low leftover stuff that was bought South Wales Government. It to hit the open road. down on it,” recalled Dave. for the van and I shed a tear is estimated 6,000 brumbies “We did the research, talked “We drove the 500 kilometres each day.” live within the Kosciuszko to vanners, checked out some home and parked it up on a Click to comment National Park. shows and decided on a fit- Page 2 Your news and views? Email us at [email protected] the Issue 173 Times May 25, 2018 QUIZ CORNER Last week’s picture puzzle winner was Ian B A wake-up call 1 2 While the heavy snoring of a partner is often the subject of Dash Cam Happy Hour jokes, there is a Win grey nomad stickers! growing realisation among the Email the solution to the puzzle. Winner announced in Issue 174. grey nomad community that CLUE: Perfect for grey nomads it can actually be the sign of a who need a tray for carrying extra gear but who might want serious medical condition. to take extra passengers. Someone with sleep apnoea will either completely stop breathing (known as an apnoea) and/or have their breathing severely restricted (a hypopnea). More and more travellers are discovering that this condition Do You Know is affecting their sleep, and Bruce and Diane (inset) take the tracks in their Vista RV Crossover 1. Vibes Drill (anagram). Name severely impacting their health this iconic Outback town. and quality of life. Happily, amazingly, he didn’t take long there is an easy solution and to become used to wearing the 2.