the Timesthegreynomads.com.au/GreyNomadTimesIss128A.pdfwonderful, happy, generous and polite people who travel. However those who abuse and whine are the ones who cause most stress

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

In this issue: •Sock it up •My husband is as stingy as Scrooge •Rubyvale rocks

‘Isolate noisy neighbours’GNT readers

This year we decided to try caravanning and working our way around Australia and were thrilled when we got a job at a tourist venue in northern Australia for ‘the season’. However our experience has been seriously marred by having to deal on a daily basis with rude, arro-gant, demanding people who treat us and our fellow staff in an appalling, often disrespect-ful manner. I am embarrassed to say that it is those our own age and older (Boomer + age groups) who are the main offenders. We had an inkling about this poor behaviour last time we travelled three years ago, when we were put off the ‘grey nomad set’ as they spent a lot of time around the campfire moaning and complaining about almost everything – nothing was good enough. In fact, I was shocked that many grey nomads we met last trip thought Kakadu, a world her-itage area of immense beauty and cultural importance, was a ‘waste of time’. I have discussed this be-haviour with others in the tourist industry and, sadly, it is a common tale, with more seasoned operators saying they feel the behaviour is getting worse each year. Of course, there are also many

wonderful, happy, generous and polite people who travel. However those who abuse and whine are the ones who cause most stress to workers, even if they are in a minority. So here are some tips for those who want to make life happier for themselves and for those who ‘serve’ them through the tourist industry. • If you are going in high tourist season to a popular destination – book ahead. This is especially true if you travel in a ‘gang’– arriving at a caravan park at 5pm without a booking and demanding that you all get powered sites right next to each other.• Don’t abuse the reception staff if you are not able to get a drive-through site for your massive 5th wheeler, with car trailer that you don’t want to unhitch• By all means ask if there is a seniors, veterans, locals discount, but then let it go if staff say ‘no’. •If you choose to travel 800km a day with no breaks, don’t be grumpy and rude with staff because you are tired and

It’s time to segregate caravan parks and campsites into areas for noisy and non-noisy campers ... and so says a vast majority of grey nomads.Some 88.8% of respondents to our poll on the issue favoured a sound division. “The last thing I want is some drunken fool keeping me up in the middle of the night,” said Greg C.However, Graeme P was a little less sure.“Having two areas at a campground might elimi-nate some of the problem,” he said. “But, as any camper will tell you, noise travels, especially at night.”Paul S was one of many who didn’t think partying camp-ers was the main issue.“Travellers who run genera-tors, televisions and noisy air-conditioners anywhere near other campers who arrived first are incredibly rude,” said Paul S.Meanwhile, Geoff was one of the few who saw a down-side to segregation“I think that would be a very bad idea,” he said. “It would let the ‘noisies’ believe they then had a licence to be inconsiderate to other campsite users.”

Click to Comment

Helene & Ian Hipp say grumpy grey nomads

are spoiling the Big Lap

Issue 128: August 12, 2016

Page 1

emotional at the end of your journey. • Do not play out your person-al dramas in front of everyone in reception.• If the sign says ‘no pets’ – that means no pets. Yes, your dog may be ‘special’, small and better behaved than the Queen’s corgis, but the sign still says ‘no pets’. If you are healthy and have enough money to travel in this way - be grateful. And please show some respect and kindness to those who ‘serve’ you by working in the tourist industry. Make sure you add something positive every day. You may just find that your life will be richer for it too.• Are many grey nomads too grumpy?Click to comment

Time to cheer up?Times

Are grey nomads moaning their way round Australia?

Ian and Helene

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

‘We were fine - but our son reported us missing’Grey nomad Chrissy Scarvell

recalls the time she was unwittingly the subject of a

huge police search

A couple of years back the Other Half and myself were travelling around ‘remote’ areas. Now, we were seasoned and sensible travellers. We were in contact with our son, a serving member of the ADF, via mobile phone and email. When we knew we were going to be out of range we advised him of our proposed route and time. All good! Off we went, only to get mixed up with some classic car rally which made enjoyable travel for us nearly impossible due to the frantic pace of the com-petitors and support vehicles. It was also becoming danger-ous.We decided to pull up, pitch our tent behind some nice sand hills and let them all go on their merry way. This added three days to our itin-erary ... not much in the big scheme of things.We reached Innamincka (fol-lowing yet another delay after stopping to assist a support car which had broken down)

only to have to queue up with all the classic cars and support groups to use any facilities including the only public telephone!After a few hours of patiently waiting our turn came to make our call. Our son was relieved to hear from us and said he would now contact the South Australia police and call off the search! He had used his map reading skills to triangulate where we might be and had passed all this info to the police. Of course, we were mortified that he was so concerned for our safety that he felt the need to report us missing. When we phoned him later that night he reassured us he had

Page 2

Outback journeys can be dangerous ... and dropping out of contact causes concern for loved ones at home

Campfire horrorA 21-year-old woman suffered serious burns after tripping and falling backwards onto a campfire while camping at Collins Weir, southwest of Cairns. Tahlia Stewart suffered sus-pected third-degree burns to her back, arms and right hand.

Survival hikeA pair of camel hunt-ers have walked 50km to find a phone signal after their 4WD bogged in the Western Australian out-back. A search by the State Emergency Service near Kalgoorlie had earlier failed to locate Les Rob-inson, 46, and Danny Azevedo, 34.

Kayak crocA kayaker in central Queensland was forced to use his paddle to fend off a crocodile attack off the coast of Shoalwater Bay. He paddled his damaged kayak about three kilometres to Townshend Island where he was trapped by bad weather for four days.

Dingo killersFour dingoes are being re-leased onto Pelorus Island off northern Queensland to kill feral goats that are destroying its endangered ecosystem. The wild dogs have been implanted with a time-activated poison, so they will not become pests themselves.

Nomads in Brief

called the police search off, saying they were thankful we had turned up and it was bet-ter to be safe than sorry. All’s well that ends well.He gave us a lovely satellite phone for Christmas that year and we carry it on EVERY trip we take.

Click to comment

Issue 128: August 12, 2016

Character of the road

STORAGE1800 971 771120 Burnside Road Yatala QLD 4207 [email protected]

oasisstorage.com.au

Oasis Letterhead.indd 1 24/02/16 11:11 AM

cars & trucks • semiscaravans • boats

tradesman equipmentcontainers• furniture

personal storagecustom stoarge

oasisstorage.com.au

Sat phones help people keep in touch... wherever they are

Facilities at Innamincka were stretched

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

Page 3

I had a stroke two years into a trip around Australia. I now have limited use of the left side of my body. It is now 15 months since the stroke and I am slowly gaining some use, although it is minimal. It certainly derailed our plans with the next six months spent in hospitals in South Australia and Western Australia. I have been out on a couple of trips since with modifications to new auto Isuzu tow vehicle with my wife doing the driving and most of the setting up and packing with help from rela-tions and friends. It has slowed us down but it hasn’t stopped us completely, so for those with major medical problems there can be a light down the road. Our next trip is to see the wildflowers in bloom in WA in mid-September.

Willo(Say hello on UHF ch18 if you see us on road with names on the back of the van).

My wife Linda and I planned to set out on the Big Lap during February this year. However over the New Year holiday period, when we were staying in our Bailey caravan with friends at Bright, Victo-ria, I began to feel unwell. I initially had a most uncom-

fortable feeling in the region of my left kidney which then became a painful left testicle. I was found to have a rare form of a cancerous tumour on my ureter, between the kidney and bladder. I had a stent inserted to stop the tumour from crushing the ureter and I was booked into hospital to have the cancerous tumour re-moved. Unfortunately, the area around where the drain tube had been became infected and I was sent straight back to hospital again where it was found I had a golden staph infection. I spent a week in isolation before I was able to go home again. About a week later when visit-ing my specialist I collapsed and it was found the infec-tion had got into my blood-stream. My blood pressure was extremely low and teams of doctors and nurses worked hard to stabilise my condition. Another week in hospital in isolation and I was fit enough to go home again.When I had surgery to remove the old stent and to have further biopsies taken, it was decided that I was in a high risk category of having the cancer return, so I will have to have BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) treatment for six weeks every so often over the next year, which will only give us a few weeks at a time before the following treatment. So

not only has our Big Lap been delayed by six months, it will be at least another year before we can plan to do it. In the meantime, we will have to be content with short trips away in our caravan. If you are plan-ning to do the Big Lap ... do it now, as you never know what’s around the corner.

Glynn B

I was deploying compost onto the garden from my own compost bin without wear-ing gloves. I did have a small cut on my left hand finger. I got an infection, ignored it ... and then had to go into hospital with a fever and blood pressure of 90/40 and a heart rate of 180. I was taken in an ambulance to Sydney where I spent two very uncomfortable weeks in hospital. Don’t ignore small cuts and abrasions ... it could cost you.

John M

In May 2015, we had every-thing packed up and into stor-age, left our rented home in Melton, Victoria, for our Big Lap adventure. We stopped at Ayson’s Reserve for a few days. My breathing was a bit asthmatic but we continued on to Finley in New South Wales. I got worse. I coughed and coughed, night and day. My husband, Russell, took me to Finley hospital where I was admitted by a really lovely

doctor who was determined to find out what was causing it. It was beyond asthma. After some tests, scans and a week in the lovely country hospital I had been diagnosed with having bronchiectasis, with asthma. Ouch! Huge obstacle in our trip. After hospital we headed for Nagambie, where we had previously planned to settle after our lap. We went to the caravan park and organised our cabin building. Meanwhile, I couldn’t walk 10 metres without getting out of breath. A lung specialist in Shepparton had me on some meds etc. It was like a three-month-long asthma attack. I finally started feeling better in about September. We decided to sell the caravan and 4WD as we decided not to continue. Meanwhile, another lung specialist put me on some totally different puffers and preventers. I started to feel quite good ... and we got itchy feet again! Missed the road (we had travelled prior to the planned big lap), so my husband searched the internet for a price and size suitable motorhome. Bingo! He found one. We are now doing it up to suit us and plan on hitting the road again. Once it gets in your blood, it doesn’t go out! Looking forward to getting back out there.

Sue M

Issue 128: August 12, 2016My Big Lap nightmare!

Letters Special: When things go wrong

In the last GNT, we asked if your trip had ever gone

wrong. The answer was YES!

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

Page 4

Our caravan plans have cer-tainly derailed, We bought a brand-new caravan to update from our old one which did not have a ensuite which, at our age now, we need. After travelling 600 kilometres in our new van, one of the wheels just came off ... all the bolts that hold the wheel on sheared off. We are now so disap-pointed with caravanning that we don’t even know if we will pick the caravan up after it has been repaired.

Albert

Cellulitis. Began as a rash on my left ankle. No great discomfort and, being male, I wouldn’t go to a doctor, would I? We were sitting down at the bottom of the Mt Morgan Range and, after a week with the rash slowly creeping up my leg and the constant harp-ing of my wife, I went to see the private doctor in Mount Morgan. She took one look at my leg and gave instructions for me to be admitted imme-diately.“You have what appears to be cellulitis ... blood tests will confirm,” she said. “You’re go-ing on high spectrum antibiot-ics for a couple of days as we have to stop the infection from getting to the lymph glands ... oh, and you might lose your leg!.”I was there for a week while the rash very slowly receded

back to my ankle. Stubborn, stupid male. My ‘she’ll-be-right-mate’ attitude could have cost a leg, at least. After a couple more weeks on tablets, all was well and I asked where the hell I could have picked up such a virulent germ. “Don’t know”, the doc answered, “It is everywhere in the environ-ment and it only takes a bit of grass to break the skin and, if the bug is there, you’ve got it ... so be bloody careful.”

Vince M

Two weeks before I was ready to go I snapped my Achilles! Just when things were on the mend and we were thinking of setting off, my travel compan-ion (my 14-year-old poodle) broke his leg. Now, we are planning for next year.

Paul JWe were on a 12-18 month lap around the block. All was going well but I had a fall in Broome. I treated the small wound with Betadene. We were five days on the road and, by the time we reached Ku-

nunurra, my wound had be-come infected. The wound was like a volcano waiting to erupt, and I thought the pain on my shinbone was from bruising. The doctor said I had cellulitis and I was admitted and swabs taken. Three days later results showed I had a very rare bug and had to go on Bactrim. The bug had been eating away under the wound. When they opened it up, the hole was an inch deep and wide. After three weeks, I flew back to Perth as I was frightened of travelling on in case it got re-infected. Hubby dove back. Six weeks later and it is just starting to heal. There were people in Kununurra Hospital with cellulitis after swimming in the water holes on the Gibb River Road. They have had a dry wet in the north so water hasn’t been flowing. I have some nerve damage around the wound. Be careful out there. It hasn’t deterred us, though. We’re off across the Nullarbor in November to fin-ish off what we started.

Gary A

We were 19 kilometres outside Winton on our way to Lark Quarry Conservation Park to see the Dinosaur Stampede when we had an accident where our caravan tipped over. This one particular dip on the road was deeper than the other ones we had been

through and, as you come out of it, there is a bend. Sure enough, as we were turning the bend the caravan started to sway, fishtailed and before we knew it the car came to a sudden stop. Both Chris and I were okay but our caravan laid on its side, still attached to the tow ball. Our car was lifted two feet high up in the air at the back. Our caravan is a total loss, even though it’s still in one piece. Only three glasses broke and one mug split in half, one dozen eggs in the fridge did not break or crack, and a 1-litre carton of milk opened and did not spill anywhere. After spending 10 days in Winton surrounded by floods we packed all the stuff from the caravan into our car and drove back home. We will do this trip next year but we will not visit the places we’ve seen and do not know if we’ll end up seeing the Dinosaur Stampede. Time will heal all wounds, but we are very lucky that my husband and I did not suffer any injuries and that our car didn’t roll over. The only damage our car sustained was that the tow bar is bent, and the side of the car, front bonnet and down near the headlights have some damage from the white post on the side of the road. Now that we are back home, our car will get fixed and start looking around for another caravan.

Anne

Issue 128: August 12, 2016

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

Lighten your load ... trade shoes for socks

Along with a cracking camp-chair and a reliable vehicle, comfortable footwear is one of the key elements of any suc-cessful grey nomad Big Lap.While thongs have long been the choice of many chilled-out travellers hanging around under the awning, it seems times they may be a-changin’. With growing awareness of the dangers of infection and potential medical nightmares that even a small cut can bring in the tropical north, a more protected option is sometimes called for.Enter the sock-shoe!Now, you can mooch around the campfire or caravan park in footwear that is both suit-ably comfy and sufficiently sturdy to protect you from stings, cuts and bites.Skinners Technologies has even tested the strength of its sock-shoes – or Skinners – by having wearers jump up and down on broken glass and on scatterings of Lego blocks ... all without apparent ill effect.They effectively offer the freedom of a sock, combined with the great grip and the basic protection of shoes. The company also stresses the roll-

Page 5

up portability of the footwear, and the fact that they can be taken anywhere in a pocket or bag and pulled out when people want to change their shoes for something comfier, or want to change thongs for something more enclosed when the mozzies start buzz-ing. The upper side of the Skinners look like a normal sports sock and is made from a silver-infused, antibacterial fabric that includes integrated mesh ventilation zones. The outsole wrapping is made from a dual-layer, waterproof poly-mer which is designed to hold up to various rough surfaces that you walk on in the bush, campsite or caravan park. They weigh just 2.8oz.

Although the shoe-sock’s anti-bacterial fabric helps fight foot odour, when they do finally need washing, they can simply be popped in the washing machine on gentle.Skinners sell for around US$45.

Click to comment

Website highlights

A bay by any other nameRecently our websitewww.thegreynomads.com.au reported that Tasmania’s idyllic Eggs and Bacon Bay is under fire … for promoting a meat-eating lifestyle! Ani-mal rights group PETA has written to the Huon Valley Council calling for the name to be changed to the vegetari-an-friendly ‘Apple and Cherry Bay’.

Click here for more

Other website must-reads:

Slip-sliding awayWill erosion kill coastal parks?

Coffee economyDo you buy a cup?

Top camp?Is Julia Creek the best?

Tragedy in WAGrey nomad body found

Merchandise magicGet your Grey Nomad gear

SURVEYShould our ‘unhealthy’

place names be changed? YES NO

Issue 128: August 12, 2016

Portable, cosy protection for your feet

WHERE ARE YOU HEADING

TO NEXT?BOOK NOW

DISCOVERYHOLIDAYPARKS.COM.AU

Socks ... the perfect footwear for a campfire evening?

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

Class is in for caravannersMost GNT readers feel that towing courses should be a prerequisite to hitting the road with a caravan. They said:

As a coach driver I cannot understand how a driver of a

vehicle over 4.5 tonnes must undertake a test, both theory and drive. Yet anyone can tow a trailer/caravan behind a car and have a combined vehicle mass of up to six tonnes with only a normal car licence. Many drivers have not under-taken skill updates since they obtained their driver’s licence, maybe 40 to 60 years prior.

Geoffrey TFor people who have never towed anything bigger than a 6x4 box trailer, it would be silly not to do a towing course.

KBI think anyone who has not towed a van, should do a course and be taught how to handle and load a van. Some people towing now are an accident waiting to happen. It would also be great if every caravan was fitted with an off-road hitch which would help in the case of a rollover.

Lance CSome sort of tuition is surely a must. If it promotes safety then it is a no-brainer!

Phil B (Magnarc)There is no reason to mandate a towing course. There should be a towing licence though! With the size and weight of some of the vans on the road these days it is amazing that the regulators haven’t decided on a licence already.

David M

Page 6

My motorhome is 6 tonnes and I need a light rigid licence. Anyone can buy a new 4WD and caravan that weighs more and is harder to handle. In five years on the road, we have seen a lot of smashed-up new caravans.

Garry DWe feel towing courses are of great benefit. Knowing what to do when things go pear shaped must give us confi-dence, not mention improving the safety for us and others. You are never too old to learn.

Susan & Brian HCaravanners, through igno-rance or selfishness, endanger their lives and the lives of oth-er drivers by towing vans that regularly exceed the regulated tow capacity. Manufactures are just as culpable by producing vans that have little excess to accommodate the basic kit re-quired. So, should caravanners be licensed? Should manu-factures be held accountable? Absolutely. And soon!

WayneI always drive to the condi-tions and am always aware of other drivers. I can also reverse my van with ease into most spots. I am not clever. I’ve just done it for a long time. In saying that, if you are new to towing try a few manoeuvres. If you find it dif-ficult, then go and have lessons ... you won’t regret it.

Colin P

My experience of 4WD train-ing seems that the loudest folk are the most needy of instruc-tion, unbeknown to them. I figure trailer backing would be much the same.

OtziOf course, anyone driving any sort of articulated vehicle should be required to do a course and pass a test unless they’ve had experience. For example, ex-truckies. Cara-vans and fifth wheelers can be up to 35’ long and, with the towing rig, can end up as long as a standard metro bus.

Di DI have to admit when we started as newbies in caravan towing, the course run by Tow Ed was informative and aided us in understanding loading, stabilising require-

Issue 128: August 12, 2016

TheTHE GREAT ‘GREY NOMAD’ DEBATE: ‘Towing Course’ / see below for next topic

Nomads think taking a towing course is the first

step for a safe journey

State for nomadsTHE GREAT ‘GREY NOMAD’ DEBATE CONTINUES:

Ding, ding! It’s round eleven in our grey nomad ‘Great Debate’. And so, without further ado,

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!

The great grey grapevine suggests that every state is different when it comes to rest areas, free camping, road conditions, national park poli-cies and general ease of travel for nomads. Which state do you think claims the title of most nomad-friendly? What criteria do you think is most important for nomads? Do you find that there are signfi-cant changes when you cross a state line? Click to contribute

GNT readers think caravanners should set a course for training

ments, balancing and tricks for reversing. I would recom-mend a course to newbies, particularly if they’re planning on towing with a reasonably large caravan, irrespective of the cost. On our six-month trip through, we met people who thought they were pro-fessionals but who made me look good.

Alan FI have had having a truck licence since I was 20. I don’t need it to drive my rig which weighs 5.8 tonne, yet I need a truck license to drive anything else that big on the road. Can someone please tell me how that makes sense?

Phillip RDon’t encourage over regulation, it does nothing to eradicate

oxygen bandits. If someone feels a towing course is for them, great. There can be up to over half a million caravans and campers using our roads at any one time with bugger all accidents involving towing. Why add further complication to our lives? Ron O

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

Rubyvale delivers history, sights and fun in spades

For a town with a population of just 600 or so, Rubyvale in central Queensland sees an awful lot of grey nomads pass through ... and most of them have got a sieve and a digging utensil tucked away some-where.Located in the heart of the gemfields region, approxi-mately 60 kilometres west of Emerald, the dusty settlement has long been defined by the presence of – and the hunt for – precious stones.Originally known as Police-man’s Creek, the area has been mined for sapphires and gemstones since the late 19th century. And, like most areas dependent on the materi-als dug out of its ground for survival, Rubyvale’s fortunes have ebbed and flowed over the years. Its most recent resurgence really started in the mid-1970s when squatter-miners and casual tourist fossickers began arriving in search of their fortune ... or at least a bit of fun.The Sapphire Gemfields covers some 900 square kilometres and is reportedly one of the most significant sapphire bear-ing areas in the world. Rubyvale boasts a range of shops, gem outlets and basic services to keep fortune seek-ers fed and watered, as well as

a somewhat iconic pub. The New Royal Hotel Rubyvale is made from ‘billy boulders’ and ironbark logs and can be accu-rately described as both quirky and character-filled.The other main commercial centre in the gemfields is Sapphire, some six kilometres away, and the tiny townships of Anakie and the Willows are also close by.As you might, expect there are a number of caravan parks in the area, including the Rubyvale Caravan Park, but some visitors also choose to camp out on the gemfields themselves.There are five fossicking areas in Rubyvale Township: Reward; Middle Ridge; Scrub Head; Divide and Tomahawk Creek. All, with the exception of Tomahawk Creek which is 40 kilometres away, are rela-tively close to town. For the less adventurous and less well equipped, there are a number of fossicking parks which sell wannabe fossickers a bag of wash and show them how to sieve, rinse and sort the sapphires from the gravel.

Another way to get a taste for the mining lifestyle is to take one of the underground mine tours available. At the Bobby Dazzler Mine, for example, visitors can learn about the town’s mining history, experi-ence how hard the miners worked, and see where sap-phires hide in the walls.If grey nomads and other visitors are still in the mood for something twinkly, The ‘Gems by Day, Jewels by Night’ Observatory offers a fascinat-ing insight into the wonders of the night sky above. One of the highlights of the region’s calendar is the four-day Gemfest Festival, which is actually running at Anakie and surrounds this weekend. In winter, there are also weekly Sunday markets, which rotate between Sapphire, Anakie and Rubyvale.With so much going on and with an ongoing opportunity to strike it seriously rich, it’s no wonder the grey nomad path to Rubyvale is such a well beaten one.

Click to comment

Page 7

QUIZ CORNERLast week’s picture puzzle solution:

PICTURE PUZZLECLUE: You’re increasingly likely to run into one of these in Outback Australia. (Answer in Edition 129)

Do You Know 1. I’m travelling direct between the Queensland towns of Char-leville and Miles. Which highway am I on?

2. In which southern WA town do a large black bird and an Aussie swimming icon come together?

3. Shortest road distance between the Queensland towns of Goond-iwindi and Toowoomba?a) 221m b) 307km c) 412km

4. Urban Roll (anagram) Plain or not, it’s still a very long way across.

5. The back half of which Queensland town is a weight on its front end victory? (Answers on p. 9)

Issue 128: August 12, 2016

The Miners HutPhoto: Tourism QLD

National Park

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

Page 8

Dear Jaclyn and Heidi,We’ve been travelling for six months now and, at the rate we’re spending, we can afford to keep going for the next six centuries! And it’s not because we’re millionaires or anything ... it’s because my husband, Tom, is obsessed with travelling on a shoestring. If we splash out on a stay in a caravan park you can guarantee it’s either Christmas or my birthday, if we ‘eat out’ it will definitely be fish and chips, and a scenic helicopter flight or a river cruise are completely out of the question. Tom seems to take more pleasure out of how little money we spend than he does from enjoying the places we visit and meeting the people we meet. And it’s only getting worse. We may not be rich, but we’re not exactly poor, either. How can I get him to loosen the purse strings a little?

Kate

Too cheap? I think it is often difficult for people who have only recent-ly retired to re-adjust to the fact that they are not earning a full salary any more and some tend to over-compen-sate. You mention being able to keep travelling for the next ‘six centuries’ on your current budget, so I can safely I as-sume that Tom is drastically ‘under-spending’. The obvious thing is to sit down and dis-cuss the issue. Let him know you want to spend more time in van parks, or have more meals out, or perhaps treat yourselves to a flight over the Mitchell Falls. I am not sure who works out the budget in your rig, but you need to come to an understanding about what you can and can’t afford. He needs to listen to your Big Lap dreams and you need to be mindful of his financial caution ... however illogical you consider it.

Jaclyn

Who made Tom the Treasurer and all-powerful dictator of your Big Lap, Kate? Retire-ment and leaving behind the comforts of home to live on the open road changes a lot of things ... and one of them should be your apparent subservience. You’re a half a century or so beyond the pocket money stage, so start asserting yourself. If Scrooge doesn’t want to spend $10 having a meal at the local club that’s his problem, and if he doesn’t want to go on the Yellow Water Cruise, go without him. Once he starts realising that you can spend your cash without asking his permission, I think you’ll find he wants to come along just to keep an ‘eye on things’. But I suspect money is just a part of the problem here. It’s time for him to start showing you the same respect you show him.

HeidiClick to comment

Safety specialcoming soonThe number of road acci-dents involving grey nomads this year appears to have reached frightening new lev-els, with dramatic rollovers and collisions seemingly oc-curring every other week. The Grey Nomad Times will shortly be producing a ‘safety special’ to investigate some of the reasons behind the unacceptably high level of accidents involving travellers on the Big Lap.The special will include input from police, caravan towing experts, and grey nomads who have experienced the horror of highway crashes for themselves. Articles will also look at the contribu-tion things such as tyre maintenance, anti-sway bars, towing courses and bull bars can make to keeping grey nomads safer on the Big Lap.If you are not a GNT subscrib-er, and would like to receive the special, click here.

Issue 128: August 12, 2016

With native Australian wild-life coming under increasing pressure from a number of different sources, organisa-tions such as the Save the Bilby Fund are stepping up their efforts to raise aware-ness of the issues.Launched back in 1999, the Fund has recently opened new premises in the Queens-

land town of Charleville where visitors can enjoy the interpre-tive display and learn about the marsupial. Bilbies are being bred for reintroduction into nearby Currawinya National Park.The Save the Bilby Fund now offers visitors unique oppor-tunities to meet bilbies and to learn about the endearing,

Lifeline for dwindling bilbiesendangered marsupials. At shows such as the Charleville Bilby Experience, people are given the opportunity to see bilbies in the nocturnal house established in the historic Charleville Railway Station.The new premises is open from 11am–6pm Tuesday to Saturday; and 3pm-6pm shows Sunday and Monday.

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

Page 9

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.

Please refresh your browser when you visit the classifieds on our website to ensure you are seeing the most updated version

FOR SALE HELP WANTED

HOUSESITTING

PILBARA, WAI urgently require a responsible, caring Grey Nomad/s to take care of my 10 year old son starting in early to mid September 2016. The duties include preparing him for school, help with homework, take him to sport events & just have fun…also light household duties sweep/vaccum, mop floor, dishes, ironing, clean toilet & bathroom & prepare dinners…all of the above is when I am at work only. I work a rotational roster…4 days on 4 days off….4 nights on and 4 days off! We live in the North West (Pilbara) of WA. Part of the awesome package is that we are a happy & loving family. Click here.

***

GERALDTON, WAWe would like to go away for September and are looking for a couple to park their van in our garden. There are 4 chooks and an easy care well behaved dog to look after. Click here.

***KOORDA, WAWe are seeking a couple to caretake of our small farm [160 acres] in the central wheatbelt of WA. We are after a suitable couple to collect the eggs the chooks lay, check water for the few sheep we have and water and look after the garden as required. Oct 5 - Dec 20. Click here.

***LAKE EILDON, VICWe are looking for a retired couple to spend time on our property and love it as their own as it is a very beautiful place. We want you to generally keep an eye on things, This is mostly about having a presence on the property, maintaining the garden and vegetable garden. Click here.

***JULIA CREEK CATTLE STATION, QLDWe are a remote Cattle Station 100 km NE of Julia Creek. We require 1 to 2 people to Caretaker while we are away. Someone to feed the dogs, 1 cat, and assorted poultry, collect the eggs and water the lawn and garden. Plus mainly to be a presents on the place. In exchange they get a lovely secluded location to enjoy plus free water and power if needed, and eggs. We require people all year round especially during the winter months. Click here.

***ROCKHAMPTON, QLDWe would love to have someone property sit for us. We have 4 horses and chickens and gardens to water. We are at a stage where we would like to be able to visit the grandies and not have to worry about our property. Preferably have your own van and love the country lifestyle. We are situ-ated on 20 acres between Rockhampton and Emu Park. Click here.

***

CARNARVON, WAThe Carnarvon Space and Technology Mu-seum is seeking a caretaker couple to as-sist at the museum. Free onsite power for your van. Must be friendly and outgoing. Light duties including opening museum on a roster basis. Click here.

***

VARIOUS LOCATIONS - NSW, QLD, SA, WA, VIC, TAS. Researchers wanted for Mystery Visits. Must have computer and ability to write reports on experiences, restaurants, tours, etc. Visits required anywhere in Australia. CLICK HERE.

***WESTERN AUSTRALIASeasonal staff required for this coming wheat harvest in WA and Australia wideWe only work with the best clients that offer great rates of pay and conditions… Click here.

***BREWARRINA, NSWGrey nomad or retiree for pub and kitchen cleaning and light odd jobs approx 4 hours a day 6 days a week when possible. Easy going small pub Brewarrina , in exchange for free power water onsite your van or you can have pub room including food and $100 week cash, suit couple or single person. Click here.

***GIRILAMBONE, NSWBuilder or very capable Handyman wanted. We have several one off building projects either started and/or need to be started and completed within the next 2-3 months. The one-off type projects we need to have completed consists of primarily preparing areas for cementing and the erection of farm infrastructure.This position would equally suit a full time worker who has the skills, knowledge and is capable of completing the task indepen-dently or with assistance from us when required or a semi-retired person who has the skills and knowledge to complete the set up tasks with the heavier labour inputs from us. Click here.

***BOURKE, NSWWe are looking for a painter. Our property is situated 60km south of Bourke, NSW on the Kidman Way. We would like someone ASAP. Click here.

***

VOLUNTEERING

Issue 128: August 12, 2016

NOTE:GYMPIE, QLDCARETAKER COUPLE Wanted. Borumba deer Park is seeking a couple for after hours caretaker duties. The caretakers would be responsible for: Assisting after hours arrivals, Minor cleaning of ameni-ties in evenings and mornings, Minor park maintenance, Some paid shifts are available in the kiosk by agreement with the caretakers. Some ground maintenance work is also available by agreement with the caretakers. We offer a private covered ensuite site and remuneration will be agreed with successful applicants. Click here.

***AGNES WATER, QLDLooking for a couple who is self sufficient in their own van, to do housework and maintain gardens while wife recuperates after a stroke and husband runs part time business. In return park van up on 4 acres with free power and Internet at Agnes Wa-ter QLD. References required. Click here.

***BRISBANE, QLDMt Gravatt Coach and Travel are looking for casual (15-25hrs p/w) and call-in casual (as required) experienced bus and coach drivers. Based in Underwood on Brisbane’s southside, we pay an excellent hourly rate of $27.25 and are on the look-out for reliable drivers to join our team. Click here.

***FLINDERS RANGES; BLINMAN, SAHelp is required in the General Store in the small township of Blinman from Septem-ber 1st 2016 until early November. Blin-man is 64km north of Wilpena Pound and is a very popular tourist destination. Blin-man General Store offers a small range of grocery items, light meals to take-away or sit down, homemade (on-site daily) bread, pies, pasties, tarts, souvenirs and gifts and also has 2 holiday units attached.Work required for 1 person is to help in the store to prepare food, make coffees, operate the cash register, stock shelves and to also clean the units. Click here.

***FLEURIEU PENINSULA, SAHelp wanted for bird census on private property. If you’re a keen bird watcher and could identify birds in exchange for a free campsite for a few days please give me a call. I have reaforested 40 acres and have noticed a huge increase in bird numbers and species. If you could help me identify tham I’d love to hear from you. Click here.

***SWANSEA, TASPOSITION P/Time 3 to 4 days per week+ suit couple. Caretaker/Daily manage-ment(3 to 4 days per week) with additional cleaning. Part time position in a small 11 room boutique tourism complex consisting of cottages and motel suites surrounded by extensive gardens and grounds. No qualifications required however the position would ideally suit an active couple looking for a hands on position. Previous experience working in a motel, B & B or cabin park with experience in front office reservation systems such as RMS. You will have excellent computer skills and familiarity with word, excel etc. Experience with MYOB would be an advantage. Great handy man skills would be an advantage along with a positive approach to all. Click here.