Australian Touring Caravan, Motorhome & Camping Club, Inc.

AT the Annual General Meeting to be held during the National Get-Together in Tanunda, South Australia in October 2008 all Positions of Officers and Committee members of the Australasian Touring Caravan, Motorhome and Camping Club Inc. will become vacant.It is the responsibility of all members of the Club to elect the Officers and Committee Members that will best responsibly manage the Club’s affairs and the Members’ finances.

Positions to be elected will be:

President

Vice President

Secretary

Assistant Secretary

Treasurer

Assistant Treasurer

Three (3) ordinary Committee Members

A link to a printable nomination form for the nominating of the above positions is below.

Nomination form

Send your completed form to

Secretary

ATCM & CC

P O Box 298

Croydon    Vic    3136

If your caravan, having electric brakes, has a Tekonsha breakaway switch (usually mounted on the "A" frame), it may be inoperative and corroded internally.

The makers recommend renewing it every 3 - 5 years as they are non serviceable.  The Tekonsha part number is 2010-P and cost approximately $24.75, at camec part number 000938 or your local caravan accessories supplier.

According to Australian Design Rule ADR 38, all trailers over 2,000 kgs. GTM (Gross Trailer Mass, being the maximum permissible laden weight on the wheels) must have a brake system on all wheels.  The system must be capable of automatically activating should the trailer become detached from the tow vehicle.  Under these circumstances the brakes must remain applied for at least 15 minutes.  The compusory breakaway system does this when fitted, and operating correctly.

One of our alert ATCM & CC members whose 5-year-old van had a brake problem, upon investigation also established and rectified the malfunctioning breakaway switch.

We urgently recommend if your caravan has a breakaway switch fitted you have it's operation (Unit, connection, circuit and battery) checked and/or replaced regularly within every 3-5 years by a reputable caravan service agent.

Club members are invited to attend the Association of Caravan Clubs of VIctoria and Their Members Inc Rally in Yarrawonga Friday 6 to Monday 9 March 2009. Our Club is a member of this organisation.

Planned activities include Saturday Sporting Activities, Saturday afternoon "Tag A Long Tour", Saturday evening State dinner and entertainment, Sunday morning breakfast, Photo competition and Club concert.

For our Victorian members this would be a great stopping off point for a few days on their way up to our 10th Birthday Get-Together in Casino.  A link to an Application form is below.

Application form

From 1 July 2008 there will be changes to NSW Road Rules.  Some of the rules have only minor amendments but all will attract fines and some will also attract demerit point penalites. Click the links below.

Document "Changes to NSW Road Rules"

Web site relating to the changes  below

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/rulesregulations/downloads/2008nswrrchanges_dl1.html  

The next issue of The Traveller to be sent to members after the June issue will be in late October or early November.   The editor of the magazine will be away enjoying a well desrved break.

If any member wishes to contribute to this website in the 'Travellers Tales' page of this site, please refer to "Travellers Page' section for details as to where to send the items. 

The next national Get-Together and AGM will be held at Tanunda in the Barossa Valley from 10 October 2008 to 17 October 2008.

Below is a text taken from the web site of the Caravan Park where the Get-Together will be held - Tanunda Caravan & Tourist Park

The Barossa Valley is Australia's best known wine region and is South Australia's most visited tourist destination.  Only 70km north of the beautiful city of Adelaide, the Barossa Valley has a unique beauty of its own. The vine-covered plains and hills surrond the charming townships of German heritage buildings, and the Lutheran churches with their distintive square spires dot the rural landscape throughout.

The Barossa also offers historic buildings, museums, scenic tours, bush walks, amusement parks, art galleries, fine restautants and a host of other activities.  We can supply hire bikes, tourist information and a great place to stay.  The rest is up to you.

Tanunda Carravan and Tourist Park is only a few minutes walk to the centre of Barossa's most picturesque main town, Tanunda (walking access to the main street from the park).

In a deck chair under a shady tree, alone, or with friends new or old, sipping a red to the drifting aromas from the barbecue..... relax and experience our splendid Barossa.

Application form.

Our Club has entered into an informal alliance with a number of other clubs with similar issues.

Further information on this exciting and positive new initiative will be published in the next issue of The Traveller.

A date for your diary

ATCM & CC Inc National Get-Together and 10th Birthday Celebration.

From the 17th to the 27th March 2009

at "Casino Village"

69 Light Street, Casino, NSW

This promises to be our biggest and best Get-Together.  More details will follow so keep in touch.

http://www.casinovillage.com.au/welcome.htm

Australia’s newest national caravan park chain Oz Parks has made a giant leap forward for the environment and sustainable tourism.  In a co-operative venture with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Oz Parks has developed a sustainable tourism program for the future. 

The Green Park scheme was launched in mid 2007 and according to Oz Park CEO John Corrall,  Oz Parks is the first national caravan & tourist park chain to adopt such a program.  “We are very conscious of the need to develop a sustainable industry, and wanted a scheme that would allow our members to do something positive for the environment.” 

“When a member of the chain becomes Green Park certified, they have to physically perform a number of tasks along sustainable tourism lines.”  He said. 

To be certified as a Green Park Operator, member parks must carry out a set task in all of the five sustainability criteria, including; Green House Reduction, Water Conservation, Waste and Recycling Management, Habitat and Biodiversity, and Social and Community. 

“We were particularly mindful of some of our remote members where a lot of what city and regional operators take for granted is not available, like Green Power and basic recycling.  To that end, the challenge was to develop a program that all parks could complete.” 

The Oz Park ‘Green Park’ scheme has done just that with almost 40% of the chain being certified to date from Hervey Bay to Phillip Island and from Sydney to Cobdogla in South Australia, with the others working towards their ‘Green Park’ certification. 

About Oz Parks – www.ozparks.com.au

Oz Parks was launched in July 2005 when a number of individual park owners who affiliated under the Oz Parks Banner to cater not only to families, but also those travellers who do not require all the bells & whistles offered by some organizations. Most guests only require to be greeted with a friendly smile and be offered spotless amenities & clean cabins and at competitive rates.  Thus, we can now offer travellers a wider choice in tourist and caravan park accommodation than was previously available.

A number of our parks are basic, whilst others offer a wide selection of facilities. With a philosophy of Clean, Competitive, Congenial, all offer clean amenities and good old fashioned customer service,

The chain is continually growing with the addition of more parks that meet our standards.  

Further information:John Corrall CEO          03 5983 0251

All mail for the Club should now be sent to

P O Box 298

Croydon    Vic      3136

Mail sent to the P O Box at Seaford will be redirected to the new address.

OZ Parks, National Caravan and Tourist Park Chain are proud to sponsor the Australian Touring Caravan, Motorhome and Camping Club.

On Presentation of your current Membership Card, their parks will be pleased to offer Financial Members a 10% Discounts from their current advertised Site Tariff to a maximum of $25 per stay.

OZ Parks have also requested that if any of our members are staying in a non member parks that fulfils their criteria of being CLEAN-COMPETITIVE-CONGENIAL  to please pass on their details, as the more parks they have the better the service they can offer.

Their contact details are;   Oz Parks Pty Ltd  62 Myers Road, Bittern  Vic 3918

Phone/fax 03 5983 0251         www.ozparks.com.au

This is for 4X4 vehicles or 4X4 off-road camper trailers ONLY.

Free secure parking will be available for caravans in Townsville whilst participation in the Cape York/Thursday Island adventure.

A HF Radio is not essential but would be very welcome. A 40 channel UHF and a first aid kit are both essential.

You do not need to be experienced for this trip as you will be well catered for by experience Tour Leaders.

The Registration cost is $50.00 and this will be used towards your camp fees etc for the trip.  However, no-shows will not be eligible for a refund of their registration fee.

A printable registration form is available for the link below.

Tour Registration Form - Conquer the Cape Convoy

The following is a brief overview of Get-Togethers proposed for 2008 (subject to approval) in Tasmania. More information is included in the CLub's Magazine, The Traveller January-February 2008

January 26,27 & 28    Myrtle Park

March 8,9 & 10       Free parking area at Oatlands

April 25,26 & 27      Lakeside Caravan at Euganana  near Devonport

June 7,8 & 9        Christmas in June dinner at Triabunna Caravan Park

November 1,2 & 3     White Beach Caravan Park   3km from Nubeena and 10km from Port Arthur

www.candm.com.au

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