A lot has been made recently of GN's who 'penny pinch' or even pilfer from CP's etc. I'd like to tell my own story which has a slightly different slant on it......
We recently free camped at a small NSW town called Gooloogong. This town has made a HUGE effort to attract RVer's by providing a fantastic camp ground in town, power outlets, showers and BBQ's for only a donation of a few coins or something(CAW6 - NSW 504). I cannot praise the town enough for this (if you're ever out that way, please pay it a visit and have tea at the local pub!) and we had a great time. On the second day of our visit (maximum 3 nights stay), an elderly couple (in their mid 70's) pulled up opposite in a car and caravan and proceeded to hop out and look around. They eventually found the donation box, looked at it and said (I heard this as our MH windows were open);"I haven't got any change, don't worry about it. Nobody puts anything in these boxes anyway"...
They then proceeded to hook up power to their van, set up their awning and open their grey water tank so it emptied all over the ground. Their dog, which was travelling with them, then went outside and pooed on the grass next to someone else's MH.
This was despicable behaviour to me and something I didn't expect to see from GN's or certainly anyone of that age. We constantly complain about the 'young folk of today' but I've never seen behaviour of that kind from 'any young folk'. In fact, I will go as far as to say that on our travels, the worst selfish behaviour has been from older travellers who think they have a right to treat any place they visit as they want to and see fit.
You know who you were at Gooloogong in late November and should be ashamed of yourselves (if you have a conscience of course??). You stole the generosity of the town that day and put nothing back but left your marks there in the way of grey water and dog poo.
It is most unfortunate that some people(can I call them that?) seem to think they have some God given right to use whatever they want without so much as a thank you. Then with absolutely no respect for anyone other than themselves begin to criticise the offered facilities!!!
I just wish there was a way of reporting this conduct to someone in authority who would actually do something about it.
I certainly don't feel it is something anyone should personally get involved in unless the opportunity arose to make a comment about what they were doing.
They would certainly be getting a dirty look from me and most likely a few others but that too would probably have no effect on that sort of person.
We have stopped a Gooloogong and checked out that site and thought it was a top spot to rest up for a couple of nights.
shame shame shame on anyone with this attitude.
frank
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Avagreatday.
Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
Luck for them I wasn't there and saw them do that because they would have got a mouthful from me and loud enough for everyone within a friggen mile to hear..
That is just the sort of low act that gets the rest of us a bad name...
Luck for them I wasn't there and saw them do that because they would have got a mouthful from me and loud enough for everyone within a friggen mile to hear..
That is just the sort of low act that gets the rest of us a bad name...
Here, Here Bob you and me both. Only buggers it up for the rest of us that do the right thing. It was a bit like when we stayed at Devils marbles earlier this year, did not see too many put the $3.30 pp in the provided envelope and then into the money box at the entrance like we did with you vehicle details etc. All I can say is our conscience is clear, even when we stayed down at Genoa near Mallacoota Victoria the other week same" HONESTY "system applied. Seen a couple put some money in but not many and we where there for two days.
We always put money in those boxes, but have often wondered, when they never seem to have any other money in them? In National Parks where there's a self-registration system, and the rangers come round and check about 6pm and 8am, we've seen quite a few who sneak in after the rangers come and leave early. Then we complain because fees have risen... this could be why.
Those miserable dishonest sleazy minority will end up ruining all these lovely cheap spots for the rest of us.
Luck for them I wasn't there and saw them do that because they would have got a mouthful from me and loud enough for everyone within a friggen mile to hear..
That is just the sort of low act that gets the rest of us a bad name...
Good on yer Bob! That sort of behaviour, like others have pointed out, is the reason why a lot of councils don't like providing 'free camps'. If we abuse them we lose them.
We see this happen a lot as we travel most months of the year, they appear to be weekend warrior/holidaying vanners, as it's more prevalent long weekends and holiday times. It's the reason we don't broadcast where most of the places we stay are, as they are frequented by real travellers who feel the same as us and now we stay of the roads during holiday periods as much as we can.
Know of at least 4 places that have stopped people camping and a couple who only let regulars who book at least 24 hrs before arriving to camp and you get a key to the gate and facilities. Much better than way, no one gets ripped off and the locals know who is in their area.
Should've photographed their vehicle and put it up on our site for all to see, or at least their rego. It is because of this behavour, we are losing our free sites. I do think about our children, who are in their 40s now, and when they retire there isnt going to be a thing called free camp, or aged pension.
Not too much surprises us anymore. We have seen the best and the worst while caravanning. The age doesn't matter when it comes to dishonesty. There is good and bad in all age groups,the oldies should know better and its not their God given right to steal and thats what it all boils down to ...they are thieves.
When we stay at a free camp we always pick up some rubbish and bin it. Some people are animals. We always donate the full amount required and sometimes add our loose change as well. We are very appreciative of towns helping us out. We help them by buying fuel,groceries and the odd cuppa.
Good on the town of Gooloogong ( my mother in law was born there) we will pay them a visit and spend some dollars.
For those that don't like confrontation, why not put a put in the donation box explaining what these people did, with their car rego number...maybe they can bill them for their stay.
When a group of us stayed at Burra there was an honesty box but looked as if it had been tampered with so when we left we collected the money off of everyone and took it into the local council offices and told them what group had been there and this was the donation money from that group and we were all oldies The council was most appreciated by what we had done.
Sometimes wish that there was a ''Likes'' area you could tick like facebook has when you agree with what you have just read....
BIG tick to you all anyway
Rosco
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The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the most of everything they have.
We know exactly what you all mean. We were in a small town in a camping area that had been set up as an alternative to the caravan park and the price was only $10/night with self registration and included hot showers and toilets.
Just after we arrived a converted bus towing a small vehicle pulled in, registered, set up and proceeded to fill one of his 400l water tank with water. The guy running the camp came over and said, " sorry mate but I will have to charge you for the water". The guy in the bus then proceeded to argue and could not/would not understand, that as the town had run out of water it was obviously an precious commodity with the cost being passed on. He was going to be charged a princely sum of $5 and objected so much that he told everyone who came in to camp not to stay. After 2 days he left (wouldn't leave earlier on principle because he had paid $20 to stay) and as he left he stopped and scrawled something very nasty on the main camp sign! It left a very nasty taste in our mouth.
We know exactly what you all mean. We were in a small town in a camping area that had been set up as an alternative to the caravan park and the price was only $10/night with self registration and included hot showers and toilets.
Just after we arrived a converted bus towing a small vehicle pulled in, registered, set up and proceeded to fill one of his 400l water tank with water. The guy running the camp came over and said, " sorry mate but I will have to charge you for the water". The guy in the bus then proceeded to argue and could not/would not understand, that as the town had run out of water it was obviously an precious commodity with the cost being passed on. He was going to be charged a princely sum of $5 and objected so much that he told everyone who came in to camp not to stay. After 2 days he left (wouldn't leave earlier on principle because he had paid $20 to stay) and as he left he stopped and scrawled something very nasty on the main camp sign! It left a very nasty taste in our mouth.
What a scumbag! I hope you got his rego? If so, can you please post it on here?
This type of behavior is absolutely despicable and nobody should be able to get away with it especially in a town that provides a great service for the travelling public I think the very least we can do if we see this behavior is to wright down the rego number of their vehicle and what they did then give it to a local
Had I seen them doing this they would certainly have heard from me in no uncertain terms telling them what I think of their behavior. they are the lowest of low life
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Life was meant to be enjoyed Australia was meant to be explored
Happily doing both to the Max.
Life is like a camera, focus on what's important & you will capture it every Time
WE should start a SHAME PAGE and put these scumbags regos on and photos if taken im sure the page would get a lot of LIKES we set off on our travels in April will surely post scumbag regos
Neil
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you are never too old to set another goal or to dream another dream
I'm not sure that it would be the right thing to do...
I am for giving them a mouthful when you see it happen and reporting them with rego numbers tgo the ones running bthe parking spot ..
But here NO
We are not the parking police or the paying police...
We definitely don't condone what they do but it isn't up to us to police it..
Having said that look out anyone I catch cheating the privileged some has given you..
Well said Bob.
We shamed a MH couple from WA who hogged 2 tables with MH at QLD dam in mid year for about a week,,, and parked their car at the next table to keep locals away.
They got the message "loud and clear".
Locals were astounded and we tried to explain it was the minority,,, etc etc.
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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
there is a website in WA that has LITTER REPORT FORMS that you can fill out which goes to the state Government.
But you have register first. I found it after seeing a younger couple leave trash in their campfire and all about at Rocky Pool near Carnarvon. Unfortunately in that case they had left early before we saw what they had done. But I was bloody wild.
We took all there crap into town to dispose of.
Worth a look.
On a single pension I can't afford to pay $30pn just to park the HiAce, and every town has public toilets and rubbish bins for all to use, BUT even I can afford a gold coin for a shower or to connect to power. And as for leaving the dog sh*t, .
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Cheers, Marianna.
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dogs (Mark Twain)
