the Timesthegreynomads.com.au/GreyNomadTimesIss160R.pdfcontracted malaria! Having spent much of his career living and working in such exotic locations as India, the Philippines, China,

the Your news and views? Email us at [email protected]

In this issue: •Incredible Queenstown •A glaring omission •Taking the cat

As the number of horrific caravan accidents on our roads continues to climb, the search for ways to reduce the carnage grows ever more intense.While mandatory towing courses and greater driver education are seen as the obvious first step by many, some grey nomads think ques-tions should also be asked of caravan manufacturers and caravan salespeople. They argue that, with some research showing around 70% of caravans on the road could be overweight, not all the blame can be put on the traveller who may not have been given all the relevant information when making an RV purchase.With criticisms levelled at the reliability of advice given by some salespeople, the Caravan Industry Association of Aus-tralia (CIAA) has announced it is to introduce a salespersons’ accreditation program in the next couple of months.“As an industry, it is impor-tant that RV salespersons are knowledgeable with regard to the product that they are sell-ing, key safety factors and the law under which the industry is required to operate under,” said CIAA Chief Executive Officer, Stuart Lamont. “While this (accreditation program) does not represent a cast iron guarantee to the consumer re-

garding their full understand-ing of specific items regarding the law or the product being sold, it will provide the con-sumer with a further degree of confidence that the salesperson they are dealing with has com-mitted to understanding their consumer obligations.” Under the new initiative, salespersons in the program will be required to commit to be annually tested to maintain their accreditation.Former policeman Ian Earle who has been taking trips with his partner Jeanette since the ’70s, says regulation is long overdue. He says that, when visiting a camping show at Sandown Racecourse in Victo-ria recently, he was stunned by some of the things he heard.“What surprised me was first the lack of knowledge that some salespersons had in relation to the vans they were selling and to the road laws that are required to tow a caravan,” he said. “On our travels around the show, we

Caravan industry body set to act to improve quality

of sales advice offered

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often heard salespersons tell-ing obviously new prospective buyers incorrect information on weights, weight distribu-tion bars, towing weights and capacity and especially solar requirements.”One salesperson told Ian that although the van he was selling was 3200kg, Ian’s Isuzu D Max (3-tonne tow capacity) would be fine to tow it.“He later told us he never owned or towed a caravan and knew very little about them but was doing the sales part for a free weekend away,” said Ian. “Another dealer spoke absolute crap about solar power, and didn’t know anything about electric brakes, anti-sway devices … and most we spoke to didn’t know about weights, and had to go away and check on the internet.”Despite his criticism of certain individuals, Ian is eager to acknowledge that some dealer-ships did have exceptional salespeople with very good knowledge of their goods.

In salespeople we trust?Times

At the other end of the cara- vanning experience scale is David Mollard, a self-con-fessed novice who has been similarly frustrated by the lack of clear advice available.“Maybe there needs to be some strong guidelines for manufac-turers and retailers to provide fact sheets on weight capaci-ties, packing and motor vehicle suitability and that they have some liability in the event of an accident,” he said. “When I purchased my van, nobody asked me what I would be us-ing as a tug … they only cared for the sale.”David, who has recently completed a towing course to boost his skillset, stresses that he is not suggesting that the individual is not ultimately responsible for their own van … only that they need to have access to accurate information. • Do you think a salesperson accreditation system to ensure product knowledge – and reli-ability of advice – is overdue?Click to comment

Ian and Jeanette (left) found that not all salespeople knew as much as they should about weight limitations, especially at caravan shows (above) Caravan show pic: Northern Star

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Taking a cat lapThere are a wide variety of reasons why grey nomads finally decide to retire and hit the open road … but Gordon Robertson is probably the only one who did so because he contracted malaria!Having spent much of his career living and working in such exotic locations as India, the Philippines, China, and Indonesia, it was in Myanmar where Gordon caught the much-feared tropical disease. Retirement, a return to Australia, and a grey nomad lifestyle soon followed.Gordon and wife Sandra – and their beloved cat, Cody – now love nothing better than to get out into the Outback in their much-loved pop-top caravan. The couple are no strangers to the open road having been avid free campers throughout their 55-year marriage.“We have had many camp-ers, caravans, buses, and a Mercedes motorhome that we did a big trip in in 2009,” said Sandra. “We have so many wonderful memories and I will always remember us sleeping all alone in a brand new tent at the dig tree at Nappa Merrie in 2011 … and we then had so much fun and laughter trying to repack it!”The Robertsons say their list of favourite places is a long one … but includes Fern Pool at Karijini, the sculptures at

Lake Ballard, the Pinnacles, Noccundra, Innamincka, Bird-sville, the Burke & Wills Dig Tree, Undara and Quilpie.Having bought a home base in Katanning in Western Austral-ia several years ago, Gordon and Sandra will soon be selling up and moving to Queensland to be closer to family mem-bers. And going with them, as he always does, will be Cody the three-year-old cat.“We taught Cody to travel as a kitten and he has a sixth sense when we are getting close to home,” said Sandra. “Katan-ning has a huge truck rounda-bout and, when we get to it, Cody knows we are home and starts with the feet on the dash and gets all excited.”Although their feline com-panion means they can no longer visit national parks, the Robertsons wouldn’t have it any other way.

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“He is a docile cat and we have left him for long periods of time alone, only to come back and find him still asleep,” said Sandra. “He loves to stay up all hours and watch the wildlife at night through the van screen door.”For all the joys of caravanning, the couple still gets upset by the amount of toilet paper in the bush and rubbish they see all over Australia … and by crackdowns on free camping.“One huge trend we have noticed is the amount of travellers living on the road and free camping, either by choice or because they are homeless,” said Sandra. “We find it a struggle on the aged pension, so we are limited to short trips now but, as long as we can drive, we will try to go somewhere … and we are so very grateful for free camping.”Click to comment

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Gordon and Sandra are veteran campers and they now travel in a pop-top caravan (above) with their cat Cody (left)

Gordon and Sandra enjoy free camping ... and so

does their cat, Cody

Nomads in Brief

Croc spotA four-metre saltwater crocodile seen at the Port of Townsville has been de-clared a ‘problem animal’ by the Department of Environ-ment and Heritage Protec-tion. Wildlife officers have installed warning signs and are working to relocate the crocodile.

KI boostThe Western Kangaroo Island Caravan Park and Wildlife Reserve has been given a $133,000 Regional Development Fund grant. Owners plan to upgrade and expand to create more and new visitor experiences for trail walkers, as well as caravanners and campers.

Tasty grassScientists at the University of Western Australia have discovered that a common spinifex grass tastes exactly like the flavouring found on salt and vinegar chips. The Triodia species is a spiky drought-resistant tussock grass found in much of Central Australia.

Beach snakeBeachgoers at Hamersley Pool in North Beach in Perth were given a bit of excitement when a deadly brown snake slithered under a woman’s towel … and wouldn’t leave! It even-tually slithered off after a brave man flicked the towel off it.

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‘We’re getting better’Digital information is the bed-rock of high quality healthcare. The benefits for patients are significant and compelling: hospital admissions avoided, fewer adverse drug events, reduced duplication of tests, better coordination of care for people with chronic and complex conditions, and better informed treatment decisions. Digital health is already help-ing save and improve lives.Connecting the many health-care organisations to the My Health Record and supporting the hundreds of thousands of healthcare providers to learn how to use the system will not happen overnight.Tremendous progress has been made since the system was first launched five years ago. Over 10,000 healthcare organisa-tions are connected, including a majority of GPs and high proportions of public hospitals in some states (such as Qld and NSW), and across private hospital groups. Over 13.3 mil-lion prescription and dispense

records have been uploaded. Also, over 3.1 million clinical documents have been upload-ed to the system. But there is still more to do. The Government announced in May 2017 that a My Health Record will be created for all Australians by the end of 2018, unless they choose not to have one. This announcement is supported by an accelerated campaign to support health-care providers across all health sectors, states, and territories to use the My Health Record.Consumers who register for a My Health Record will already have important medical records available for them to view; including a history of their Medicare Benefits Sched-ule (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) items.

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Great in theory ... but is it working for real patients and doctors?

For example, people with a My Health Record will have infor-mation on visits to the doctor, medicines subsidised through Medicare, and tests subsidised through Medicare which can be useful when visiting a non-regular healthcare provider.My Health Record can also include data from:* the Australian Immunisation Record (operated by Medicare)* the Organ Donor Register* discharge summaries from connected hospitals* shared health summaries from GPs* a range of other medical documents.Several apps are available for download from app stores that enable consumers to display their My Health Record data on their mobile phones.

Grey nomads are sharply divided on the question of whether all caravan parks should be pet friendly, with 55.8% of respondents to our poll on the issue eventually deciding the idea was bark-ing mad.“It’s nice not to worry about treading in dog poo,” said Doug F.Don M agreed. “Not eve-ryone wants to put up with dogs,” he said. “And I don’t really want to put up with smokers, either!”Dave K had another issue.“I’ve enough of clowns leav-ing the little angel locked in their van whilst they go out,” he said. “And then, as soon as they pull up again, the mutt stops barking.” Peter W wasn’t so sure. “What’s the difference between the odd bark and a screaming child?” he asked.And Pippa H had the final word. “It’s the humans that break the rules,” she said. “Not the pets!”

Click to comment

GNT readerssplit on doggone issueThe Digital Health Agency

responds to critism of itsMy Health Record system

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It is about time we began to attribute caravan prangs becoming more and more prevalent to ‘overloading and/or misloading’. Caravanners that have never taken their rigs over a weighbridge (plenty of free ones around) and deny they have a weight problem are the problem. Remember, once you add that towball load to your towing rig and add two passengers and fuel and some gear, your tow vehicle is probably over the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) so forget all the fancy off-road accessories, two spare wheels, roof racks, canopies, fridge, kitchen sink! You’ve had it, head for the weighbridge. Also be wary of GVM upgrades. All this means is one can then seriously overload the design capacity for the rear axle as that is where most of us bung that extra stuff!

Peter MMy wife and I were in an acci-dent that wrote the both vehi-cles off. Lucky, we both walked away. Lesson learnt! We have spent about $3,500 on the new caravan by fitting anti-sway and load-levelling bars, plus an anti-sway brake bar.

Geoff There are too many vans out there with insufficient down load on the ball. The manufac-turers of the vans have to take

some responsibility, as well. The positioning of the water tanks etc can alter the balance of van.

Paul MOne thing not mentioned is the number of first time carvanners with no prior towing experience, other than maybe a 6x4 box trailer with a ball to tail length at approxi-mately 3.3m and weighing in at maybe 200kg empty. As a comparison, my 17’ pop top is 7m long (ball to tail) and weighs around 1800kg. It’s not rocket science to work out that the newbie must understand the towing dynamics that they are going to experience.

Pete JI see caravan and vehicle rigs completely overloaded and wrongly balanced every day.

Education is the only thing that will fix this. If you take out a boat with more than 6HP you have to have a skipper’s ticket, but any cashed-up person can take off in a 6-tonne Gross Combination Mass (GCM) rig straight off the showroom floor. Driving a boat you can cause a mishap to yourself and crew, driving a caravan rig you can cause a mishap to yourself and every motorist that you meet on the road.

Les CWe all know that a lot of van owners ignore weight limits and I partly blame the system for this because essentials like water, gas, mattress etc are not included as part of the caravan weight but regarded as part of the load. So when you think you have a 400kg load-carry-ing capacity, in fact you don’t.

Many thanks to Lee-Ann Stevenson for sending in this pic of her ‘surfing’ at Wave Rock at Hyden in Western Australia. “Another item ticked of our bucket list,” she said. Have you got a favourite pic to share? Email it to us here.

If you have say a 400kg load-carrying capacity and you have two water tanks of 85 litres each (170kg), two gas bottles of 9kg of gas each (18kg), a mattress of 30kg, then you are left with a load-carrying capacity of 182kg. Then start taking off blankets, crockery, food, folding chairs, clothes and, all of a sudden, you are overloaded. It’s not difficult. If you consider the way the manufacturers have to state weights and capacities you see why 70% vans are overloaded. I feel that at least water and gas should not be considered as part of the load capacity but part of the caravan weight.

Frank A (Ankle)I’m a full-time nomad and a week does not pass where the campfire discussion doesn’t turn to the stupidity of our fellow nomads, who admit to being overweight and blame the manufacturers for incor-rect Tare values, poor design or outright fraud. Everyone knows we have a problem; but no one seems to be prepared to stand up and commence the discussion, which we also know will occur without active participation if the number of incidents continues to rise. It is time the manufactur-ers, dealers and community stopped talking and started a campaign to enforce change and compliance as history has shown the individual is not capable, willing or interested.

Dereck

cross IT off your buckeT lIsT!

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book NoW oN 9948 1765

Our story about a towie’s insights into caravan

rollovers got readers writing

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Re: fishing rod holders (Letters: GNT 159). Sorry to hear about the fine ... but it’s another case of ‘buyer beware’. Being available for purchase does not necessarily make it legal to fit it to a motor vehicle. Many of the rod hold-ers that I have seen protrude beyond the frontal limits of the bullbar and I would hate to see the additional injuries they could cause in the event of a pedestrian accident. My previous bullbar came with a manufacturer’s sticker stating that it was illegal to have any attachments that protruded forward of any part of the bar (words to that effect), includ-ing rod holders, driving lights, antennas, jerry cans, water bags, etc.

Pete J

They sell them because, in most states, they are legal when they have fishing rods in them, and illegal when they don’t. This has been the law (in Queensland at least) for decades. They’re required to be removed when not in use to prevent further injury to a pedestrian should they be hit by the vehicle. Things like outboard motors etc. are also illegal to fit to bullbars for the same reason.

Les T

Re: van purchase dilemma (Jaclyn & Heidi: GNT 160). I think there’s issues on both

sides here. Firstly, the obvi-ous whereby Helen and her husband got all excited and jumped in before doing sufficient homework (who hasn’t done that before?) and, secondly, their friends who have spent money they haven’t got. What if Helen and her husband needed that money for a medical emergency, or to help children out in an emer-gency or any one of a myriad of other potential financial emergencies? Personally, I’d be telling the friends I’d

decided on something else that suited my needs better and that I’m sure they’ll have no trouble selling the van as it’s such a great deal as Heidi suggested. If the friends can’t or don’t understand that then just maybe they’re not really good friends.

Les T

We love Australia. We spent five years off and on caravan-ning around your fascinat-ing country. We did the anti-clockwise loop from/to

Melbourne … and found Oz a little bigger than New Zealand. There were lots of animals, many of which could bite, poison, kill, maim, hurt us, but it was worth the risk. Now we’re back in New Zealand, we continue our caravanning adventures, but no snakes, fire ants, crocodiles poisonous fish/jellyfish/sharks to make each day exciting. And only an hour or two be-tween towns. And hot swims. And thermal activity. And volcanoes. And snow, moun-tains, and lots of beautiful lakes. And lots of rain to keep everything green. We hope we see a few of you grey nomads here sometime soon. We’re the other country across the ditch.

Bryan J(Have any of you Aussie grey nomads taken the ‘little lap’ of New Zealand? Email us here to let us know how you found it – Ed). Re: accident survivor (GNT disability special). God bless you and your family, Paul. I know the Lord has a very special job for you to do, and you’re doing it. You are an inspiration to us all. I do hope that you and Eril can travel for many years to come. To be doing what you are doing now is an absolutely amazing feat. Good luck to you my friend.

Pat G

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Andrea Quinn captured this superbly atmospheric image of Wallaga Lake on the New South Wales south coast. “I took it from the edge of the caravan park shortly before sun-down,” she said. “It is a lovely spot, tranquil and peaceful.”

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Glare to dreamSitting under the awning checking your phone, or computer, or maybe watching a bit of television is a little slice of grey nomad heaven. Maybe you’ve just finished a bushwalk, or had a lovely lunch. There’s a cool drink within reach and life is about as good as it gets … until screen glare rears its shiny head!Most of today’s electronics de-vices are equipped with glass or plastic covers for protection against dust, moisture, and other environmental con-taminants, but light reflection from these surfaces can make information displayed on the screens difficult to see.No matter where you move your chair, no matter which angle you position your device at, you just can’t seem to see things as well as you want to. But, before you resign yourself to chunks of your trip sitting in the van rather than enjoy-ing the cool breezes and blue skies, take hope from a new

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scientific breakthrough.US Department of Energy scientists at the Brookhaven National Laboratory have apparently found a way of kicking glare into touch by etching tiny nanoscale cones onto regular glass surfaces. It basically makes the glass invis-ible … and here’s why.Reflections occur whenever light encounters an abrupt change in refractive index, the degree to which a ray of light bends as it goes from one material to another, such as moving from air to water. By etching the glass’ surface into ‘a forest of nanoscale cone-shaped structures with sharp tips’, the change of refractive index for light passing from

the air into that glass is made much more gradual. The reflections are reduced so much by this that the glass is rendered almost invisible from a wide range of viewing angles.In other potentially good news, the technology could also make solar cells more efficient as less light would be reflected off.The scientists say they are excited about the possibilities and are now looking towards commercialising the technol-ogy, which they say would be conducive to large-scale manufacturing.

• Does screen glare drive you crazy?Click to comment

Issue 160: Novem

ber 17, 2017

Difference in glare levels between conventional piece of glass (right) vs. nanotextured glass (left) Pic: Brookhaven National Laboratory

www.oaktreegroup.com.au

Live an easier life at Oak Tree Retirement Villages

Call 1300 367 155Tamworth residents

Mr and Mrs Fittler

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Website highlights

Waste effortRecently our websitewww.thegreynomads.com.au reported that the tiny hamlet of Yetman in northern New South is to install a dump point suitable for smaller ve-hicles only in a bid to attract more grey nomads and other travellers. But will it work?

Read more here

Other website must-reads:

Swerving troubleGrief for wildlife dodger

Waves rockGreeting fellow travellers

Rest rulesFree campers get the boot

Good SamaritansHelp at hand after rollover

Merchandise magicGet your grey nomad gear

SURVEYDoes dump point availability persuade you to visit a town? YES NO

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Like nowhere elseFew grey nomads will ever forget the steep and curvy drive down into the Tasma-nian mining town of Queen-stown. Coming in from the hills, the settlement is nestled in a valley in a startling, other-worldly moonscape. The forests, so dense elsewhere in the area, were stripped some time ago in order to fuel the local copper smelters and the corrosive sulphur fumes have also wreaked environ-mental havoc. To add to the surreal atmosphere, Mount Sedgewick and Mount Owen – which tower above the town – blaze with orange and pink at sunset.Born from the booming de-mand for copper, Queenstown – on Tassie’s remote west coast – has then a fascinating history. That history entered a new phase a couple of years ago when the Mt Lyell copper mine, on which the com-munity depended, was placed into a care and maintenance posture.The closure of the site, which had mined for copper since 1883, left hundreds of workers without jobs and the tough town looking increasingly at tourism as a way of maintain-ing its economic viability. And, luckily for the curious grey nomad, there is plenty more besides the eye-catching surrounds to capture the imagination. Located 250 kilometres or so

west of Hobart, the town with a population of just under 2,000 boasts buildings with grand facades which hint at its bustling, prosperous past. There’s the imposing post office tower, and the Paragon art deco theatre which opened to great excitement in 1933 before falling into disrepair in the 1980s and then finally re-opening again recently fol-lowing major renovations. At one stage there were 14 pubs in town catering to the needs of thirsty miners but most have now closed. The ‘Grand Old Lady of the West’, the iconic Empire Hotel survives though, along with its National Trust-listed Tasma-nian Blackwood staircase.Another major attraction is the West Coast Wilderness Railway where restored steam locomotives take travellers through dense rainforest past gorges and rivers. Taking a tour with Queenstown Herit-age Tours is another great way to discover what this area is all about. Although its trips

down into the Mt Lyell mine were stopped about a year ago, many grey nomads enjoy the ‘Lost Mines, Ancient Mines’ tour which visits relics in the rainforest, or the tour of the Lake Margaret Hydro Power facility, which was built in the early 1900s.A walk up to Spion Kop hill will take you past passing mining heritage exhibits and up to a lookout with 360-de-gree views across remarkable landscape and Queenstown’s gravel football oval. About six kilometres to the east, the Iron Blow Lookout delivers spec-tacular views of its own over the open cut mine, and the near-deserted mining towns of Gormanston and Linda.There’s a great caravan park in town, and also budget camp-ing at Lake Burbury about 20 minutes to the east.It’s different. It’s unique. It’s memorable. And, put simply, Queenstown is a place that just has to appear on any grey nomad Tassie to-do list. Click here to comment

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Queenstown’s historic town centre. Pic: Flow Mountain Bike

Slideouts

Last week’s picture puzzle winner was Helen S

QUIZ CORNER

Win grey nomad stickers!Email the solution to the puzzle. Winner announced in Issue 161. CLUE: In all but the most remote of campsites you can expect these:

Do You Know1. If the Beach was Impossible, which Queensland town would make a great movie franchise?

2. The Tasmanian town of Pen-guin was named:a) After the large numbers of ornate black-and-white rocks originally found here in 1855 and later shipped off to England

b) After the large numbers of fairy penguins that botanist, Robert Campbell Gunn, saw here in 1861.c) In reference to the formal at-tire insisted on by Captain Eric Jackson when he entertained local dignatories aboard HMS Redoubt in 1884. 3. Creak Vow (anagram). The surf is always up at this iconic WA spot

4. Shortest road distance be-tween Ballarat in Victoria and Albury in New South Wales.a)259km b) 377km c) 496km

5. Which is further south … Hobart or Wellington in New Zealand?

(Answers on p. 9)

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Dear Jaclyn and Heidi,We are finally on the open road after much planning. The prob-lem is that, after eight weeks of grey nomadding, hubby Fred and I are forever unfavourably comparing our adventure to a trip we took back in the ’70s. Back then we remember feeling like trailblazers tackling dirt highways, surprising locals with our adventurousness, and the sheer sense of liberation and space we found. Now, it feels pre-packaged, crowded and there is bitumen everywhere. No matter how remote we go, we still feel like we’re ‘just another tourist’. Even in towns where we get what seems to be a warm welcome, I can’t help feeling that people are being friendly because they’re seeing a ‘Grey dollar’ sign across my forehead. I know I’m being unfair but how can I stop feeling that everything is worse than it was?

Jazz

Those were the days It’s always difficult going back to places where you have previously been, Jazz. It is human nature to compare … but that doesn’t always mean the comparisons are fair. You have to be very careful not to glorify every aspect of previous adventures and spoil your current trip by effectively forcing it to endlessly compete against a ‘ghost’. Why not try to think about some of the not-so-good aspects of the ‘70s ‘wonder trip’ … broken axles? Limited accessibility? Poor communication? Lack of shops and services? It’s all very easy to look back now and see even the setbacks as a memorable bit of fun … but were they at the time? And, trust me, there are plenty of adventures that might have been fun to the 20-something you, which certainly won’t be to the 60-something you! Enjoy what you’ve got now, not what you had then.

Jaclyn

I know exactly what you mean, Jazz. Oh, for the good old days when we drew water from the well, used a wash-ing board to do the laundry, and luxury motorhomes were things Americans used to travel in! Get over yourself, girl! Has the world changed? Yes. Has it changed for the better? Not in all aspects. Is Australia still incredible? Yes. Is the open road still full of ad-venture, camaraderie and fun? Yes, yes, and yes … as long as that is what you are looking for. If you can’t snap yourself out of it, I suggest you sell the van, put on your rose-tinted glasses and just have a look back at those amazing black-and-white photos of your last trip. And that’s another thing, isn’t it? Oh, the joy of taking your film to be developed at the chemist rather than having these silly digital im-ages!

HeidiClick to comment

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CLASSIFIEDS

DISCLAIMER: The Grey Nomad Times team is not responsible for any sale, trade, or other transactions between vendors and vendees or advertisers and respondents. All parties enter into transactions at their own risk.

Biosecurity experts are desperately trying to stop the wet season spread of the Spotted Tilapia pest fish spe-cies in far north Queensland. Introduced into Australia in the 1970s, tilapia have the potential to rapidly outnumber native fish. They have now been found in the Walsh River in the Mitchell River catchment which con-nects to the Gulf of Carpen-taria. It is feared they could soon threaten the lucrative barramundi and prawn industries.

FOR SALE

Feral fish fears

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CLASSIFIEDS SOUTHERN RIVERINA, NSWLooking for a taste of rural life for a cou-ple of weeks? We are seeking a mature fit couple for a little over 2 weeks from 8 February 2018 to farmsit a 700 acre farm in southern Riverina, feeding 2 dogs, chickens, mowing and tending to vegie garden. Property offers rural lifestyle with good fishing in over 3km of creek, abundant birdlife, and great Aussie bush scenery all within driving distance to Grif-fith, Albury or Wagga Wagga for day trips. Accommodation and fresh farm produce, meat, eggs, vegies provided. Click here.

***DARWIN, NTLeaders Creek Fishing Base – helpers/caretakers wanted. We are seeking Helpers/Caretakers at Leaders Creek Fishing Base (about 1hr from Darwin). We would like help with cleaning rooms and ablutions, and general handyman jobs in exchange for site (or basic accommoda-tion), power, water and use of a dinghy to access the fantastic fishing and crabbing at our doorstep. Click here.

***BURNETT HEADS, QLDWe need a couple for house sitting 12 acre farm near the beach at Burnett Heads from 10 Dec until 3 /4 Jan, 2018. You can bring your caravan or stay in our accommoda-tion Cottage. We have 2 cows, sheep and chooks. You will be required to watch the animals in case a sheep decides to escape, and generally have a presence on the property. Click here.

***INGHAM, QLDHouse sitter(s) needed for hobby farm in mountains behind Ingham FN Qld. 3 weeks during December – exact dates negotiable. Care for 2 horses and a few poultry; turning taps on/off to auto irriga-tion depending on rain, spraying biologi-cal (non toxic) insect control if needed. Orchard, veg and herbs all available. No cats but dogs Ok if kept out of house and in the yard. Click here.

***CLARE VALLEY, SAWe are looking for someone to house sit for us from the 1st of February through to the 20th of February or longer if you wish.We have two large dogs and a 17 year old cat that need looking after and a garden that needs watering. We have ample space for a caravan and somewhere to plug in for electricity and water. We are situated nicely within wineries and other tourist venues. Click here.

***ULVERSTONE, TASMANIAURGENT FARMSIT AVAILABLE – an opportunity to come & ‘farm sit’ on our rural off grid property in Gunns Plains, north west coast in Tasmania. The dates are from Thursday 23rd Nov to Friday 1st December 2017. You’re welcome to stay longer if you like, but they are the dates we’ll be away & need you. You would need to be self contained with your own camp-ervan or motorhome ideally. We have 24 acres with direct and picturesque access to the Leven river for all the fishing you can handle. You can set yourself up by the river complete with big picnic table, fire pit & grassed areas. Click here.

***WIDGEE, QLDHousesitter wanted for my lovely property 21 – 31 Dec. I have 4 dogs ( 2x small , 2x bigger) that are very friendly they will need to be fed and walked daily. Lovely property for walking and relaxing and tak-ing in the great views. Click here.

***

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PROPERTY SALE

CENTRAL QLD, QLDWe require a Relief Management Couple in Central Qld to start Mid Dec for approx. three to four weeks. This position is a hands on role and you would be required to live on site with meals provided plus a daily rate of pay. Your responsibilities would include: Reception, supervision of housekeeping staff, lawns, gardens, pool and general motel maintenance. Ability to prepare breakfast and evening meals for in house guests in the restaurant including room service. Plenty of space if you have a van to park. Click here.

***FLINDERS RANGES STATION, SAMartins Well station, approx. 50 km east of Wilpena Pound (Flinders ranges), Overlook-ing the eastern side of the ranges. Seeking person/s to help out with upcoming station duties. Anyone with building, welding, mechanical or earthmoving experience. Also gardening, handyman, housekeeping, caretaking, or anyone willing to help out with station jobs. Own accomadation(caravan) required. Rates neg on experience and jobs and hours willing to work (neg.) Prefer people who are prepared to stay at least 2 weeks, ongoing stays also neg. Click here.

***CARNARVON, WAThe Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum is seeking a caretaker couple to assist at the museum to start ASAP. Initially this will be a 6 month position with the possibility of extension to 12 months. Free onsite power & water for your van, plus a small retainer. Must be friendly, outgoing, sociable, honest and a team player. Working with children certificate will be required.Light duties include opening museum on a roster basis (3 on – 3 off), cleaning etc. Click here.

***VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN TASMANIARegistered Nurses wanted. We are cur-rently working with several well-known Aged Care providers across all regions of Tasmanian who are seeking to recruit Registered Nurses in both permanent and casual/contract positions. Whether you are a Registered Nurse look-ing for a permanent full time position or if you are visiting Tasmania for the summer and looking for casual or contract work, there are current opportunities available in Hobart and the surrounding region, Launceston, Burnie, Devonport and Regional Tasmania. Experienced within the Aged Care sector is preferred but not essential. Click here for more.

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BALLINA, NSWHousesitter wanted for our home which is on an acre block, 15 kms south of Ballina, on the far north coast of NSW. You would need your own car to get around. Basic upkeep eg. mowing, pruning, watering, would be required. We would expect you to pay for your own electricity. We have one delightful dog who would require lots of spoiling.Plus a few fish to feed. Dates: from mid January to July, 2018. Click here.

***TAMWORTH, NSWHousesitter wanted from End Nov 17 – Long Term Position available if required. We need your help to mind our 2 dogs, 1 cat and watch over a few horses standing in the paddock. This is a very quiet property on 40 acres with stunning views. Close to all conveniences and only 20 mins drive to Tamworth. This lifestyle hobby farm is a safe and private location. Click here.

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PRIVATE CAMPS

VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN AUSTRALIAMystery Shop jobs available for Grey No-mads in many regional areas in Australia.The Realise Group are a Mystery Shop-ping company based in Melbourne and we are looking for new shoppers to join our team. It’s the perfect way to earn some extra money while on the move! Mystery Shopping involves following instructions, visiting a specific store and reporting the details of the shopping experience. We provide a survey and guidelines advising what to enquire about (or purchase if required) and what to assess. In summary, Mystery Shoppers check out the service, products and cleanliness of the store and then submit the results online via an online survey. As a contractor, payment is usually between $8 and $50 or more per completed questionnaire, depending on the assignment. PLUS we reimburse for any purchase needed to complete the as-signment, which can usually be kept! Ph: (03) 9687-2360 or Click here for more.

***CAPRICORN COAST, QLDWe are a Christian Family looking for Per-manent Part-time live-in helper/s. On offer is board (accommodation / meals), power, gas & internet. Use of a vehicle & various sports equipment may also be available if required. Separate single room available or you could bring your own Van or motor-home. There is also the opportunity for the right person (or couple) to earn extra renumeration. Would suit someone who is active, honest, enthusiastic and able to fit in with our Christian family. Duties & re-numeration are negotiable to suit the right person (or couple) and may include such things as: Gardening, mowing, handyman duties, yard clean up, preparing meals, taking care of the animals etc. Click here.

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HELP WANTED

VAN STORAGE

HOUSESITTING