I think its more that CP's actually consider they are in a Monopoly business and can tell you what you will receive and what you will pay, rather than find out our wants/needs....
I've dealt with many CP owners <not the Manager non owners> and they really do invariably believe they are Special...the amount of their Investment should guarantee their returns on Investment even if their Parks are 'over capitalised' with items we neither require or use....its also why such pressure/influence is brought to bear on Local Area Councils to restrict or get rid of, alternative choices for the Grey Nomad demographic group....under the false premise that we are Freeloaders....

Quite the contrary we are at an age where we no longer wish to pay/subsidise things that we do not require, or ask for.....we will willingly pay our way however we will not be extorted or coerced...As a Group we are far less likely to be duped or accept the patently unacceptable as we perhaps had to, during the years we had work and family commitments and we could not 'rock the boat'.....but "they" don't understand or want to understand, our needs and wants...only their needs and wants....Customer may not always be right..but we are always the Customer...
Watch things change when we can get organised as a representative Group who has the power to change their ideas rather than we continue to accept theirs....
Fully self contained Rigs are only the first item in our armourment.....a few Independent Senators who understand our needs and potential voting power will likely be another...
A Eureka moment!.....a 'watershed moment with many dump points' to put it in our vernacular....it will come and sooner rather than later....
Hoo Roo.....

well said golddetector

I recon we should start our own "grey nomad" party, that would put the wind up em..

Cheers

Hey if you really want to make me Happy..

If you are not of a fixed Abode.. How about EVERY grey nomad on the road Becomes a resident in a Certain PM electorate and we get him out on his Behind...

Juergen

Well said Golddetectornomad.
Larry

The problem is there is no united Grey Nomad organisation to have a voice in the industry
There should be a GN rating system for parks and free camps
Would not be too hard to do and if the parks wanted a good rating they would have reasonable systems in place as part of their accreditation
Unfortunately i do not take too much notice of the motoring organisations rating system i think it is badly floored

Allan

I think the idea of our own party is great and hell there sure is enough of us but lets take the call up and see how many are prepared to put their name and time to make it a success from my past experience with the fifty club every one likes to complain but does not seem to have the will or desire to get involved any takers ,just my thoughts

peter

I am so disgusted with the two main political parties and their attitudes to us older and their level of honesty which we are learning about on a number of fronts that I did seriously consider having a go for the senate where an individual can have an impact but the advice that I received from home made it a non option.

The idea of targeting one area or electorate would be good but probably very difficult to achieve, it would certainly send a very clear message and even have a serious chance of winning and as KFT said it would need to be a real person not a politician as they all seem to only be in it for themselves and their mates.

Any grey nomad who is prepared to have a go and present our views will get a big vote from me.

I know we are not supposed to make political statement on the forum and I have tried to avoid talking about individuals and political parties but like meny others I have had enough of our current batch of politicians

as for Caravan Parks I have not stayed in one yet that has demanded full payment and usually don't pay deposits with odd exceptions, I vote with my feet and go else where

Hey Phil............why don't we start out own Grey Nomads politicial party????????

In WA we've had a Motoring Party **** elected and the local news showed his talents - eating kangaroo **** and doing donuts in cars. In his 1st TV interview he made all us WA people cringe - he couldn't string 2 words together and now is a puppet of Clive Palmers.

Any of us could run circles around him - and not just on Grey Nomad policies - but those that affect all people in AUST - some common sense and life experience makes a fairly good pollie

We are in a caravan park tonight - which is purely about seven or eight bays, on asphalt, with concrete edging and grass surrounds. There is power and water, and a dump point. There are ladies and gents showers and toilets, and a laundry with washing machine and dryer, also a"clothes line out the back"!
A free bbq is provided with tables and seats, under a shade cloth shelter.

Best thing is - it is $25 - the washer and dryer are included - Monday to Friday, you either go to the council office, or ring the ranger (numbers provided on a board) - after hours (weekends etc.) ring the AH mobile number, and Julie will come out, turn your power on, get your details, take your money and explain the place to you.

The town is Broomhill - not far from Katanning on th4e Southern Highway, on the way to Albany, here in West Australia. Just a little town - but what a great idea - more small towns should be doing this.

What about the major chains charging credit card fees but the smaller ones don't and give (generally) friendlier service. They've lost me as I will refuse to pay in future and go somewhere else.

Well I'm Opinionated..

- I hate what is happening to us as a country and Really Want to Piss Both Parties..

Not working and have my own Bus to Live in if I need to.... LOL

Where do I sign up..

ROLF......

Juergen

The key is to arrange alternatives that do not involve vested interest Caravan Parks and Councils with their decreasing Freedom parking areas......one begets the other.....
We need to encourage alternative private sites......private individuals with land adjoining Towns and Citys'...to fence off securely with all weather stone/pebble access roads......

We know our needs primarily are security and perhaps access to tap water........Landholders of course will have to challenge existing Development Plans and Zonings as they will be resisted by vested interests against an alternative happening for the 'Grey Nomad' demographic group....
Its ironic as Caravan Parks have for years now been doing exactly the same challenging existing Development Plans with establishing pseudo mini housing estates by STEALTH with cabins, mini homes, having started originally with a Caravan Park for travelling public.so designated by Council Development Plans.....and now many privately owned dwellings erected paying permanent rental site fees....contrary in many instances to the original Development Plans..until in many cases there are very few 'travelling sites' remaining having been exhumed by mini houses of permanent structure..and not transportable....

Conversely Landowners could challenge these same Development Plans....
What is needed to start the trend, and when first successful it would extend to many other areas once precedent is established....a Cartel of Professionals to include a Chartered Accountancy, Planning Advisors and a Legal Firm to advise the Landowners and also make the professional representations to Councils on the Landowners behalf....
In a former life I have seen Professionally prepared submissions change existing Development Plans mainly because of need rather than greed.....they have to be tenacious in their submissions/follow up because vested interests will always seek to protect their own financial/monopolistic positions.....
Our future needs are clearly established as an ever growing Demographic Group, and our needs are not being met by existing Caravan Park ownership mentalities, who are torn between family type holiday accommodation with all the bells and whistles and maximising profitability,and semi or permanent living accommodation with no place for the 'itinerant travellers' ad hoc by nature and length of stays.....us.........
It can happen and must happen....we need to find the entrepreneurial group/cartel of Professionals who can recognize the business opportunity we present and of course the Landowners many of whom may be farmers will improve the values of their land set aside for these Freedom Camping sites ..a win/win situation for all except those vested interests who wish to maintain their perceived existing monopolys'...A Senator or two would also be quick to see the voting bloc we represent and help with submissions to 'non receptive' Local Governments..
Food for thought?....Our RV's are now being constructed to take advantage of such Freedom Camping/Parking Sites now we need the Land to accommodate and it obviously will not be existing Caravan Parks....watch them change their attitudes 'en masse' when this starts to become reality....
As a Former Bank Manager dealing with Caravan Parks, and later Certified/Qualified Business Sale/Purchase Broker selling a number of Caravan Parks, and Licenced Real Estate Agent/ Sub Division Development Consultant approaching Councils with similar Professional Group backing, with my own business, I have an insight into both sides of the vested interest/financial 'fence'....it will happen sooner rather than later...but rather than change their business strategy's while they maintain the power/influence....they will not give ground/concessions easily....
Multiple business's in Townships would be the principal beneficiaries in addition to the Grey Nomad demographic group....

I trust those ""Special"" CP's that read these threads take notice as it will be to their financial detriment rather than ours not to take heed...."".the times they are indeed a' changin'""
Hoo Roo

P.S. I have watched a former Caravan Park in XXXXX S.A. that was purchased as a "traditional" Caravan Park providing maximum sites for travelling Vans...that Park today now has over 100 permanent/semi permanent dwellings, built by Osmosis, and now NOT ONE site for travelling Vans.....this trend is continueing all over Australia and another coastline Park on XXXXXX Peninsula S.A. which is closing altogether  for a Housing Estate...what is going to replace these lost sites as their usage need grows.. not shrinks??....

I removed the Towns names to protect this Forum from Legal problems...

-- Edited by Golddetectornomad on Monday 15th of September 2014 12:03:21 PM

-- Edited by Golddetectornomad on Monday 15th of September 2014 12:13:15 PM

-- Edited by Golddetectornomad on Monday 15th of September 2014 12:21:42 PM

-- Edited by Golddetectornomad on Monday 15th of September 2014 12:30:26 PM

There are some great comments and views represented in this thread, and people are correct, there are enough of us to have some political influence. But there are some things to consider:

While there have been a number of single topic politicians of recent (Motoring party to the Greens), this really does not add very much to the value of the parliament to the country.

While we all think the life of a politician is an easy one, I seriously doubt that it is. The hours they spend either in parliament, committees, travel, meeting with their constituents, meeting the press, understanding what they are voting on, etc. 

While many of us are prepared to volunteer an opinion on many topics, and in some cases many opinions on topics that we feel strongly about, I doubt if any of us would be prepared to commit to the hours, effort, and derision that would be involved in being a senator for six years.

Perhaps a better question would be "how can we reap value from our numbers, by making existing or prospective politicians aware of our numbers, and our needs?"

Maybe we need to develop a letter we can send to politicians (and maybe the media), which should contain a clear list of what is important to us, and what we would like to see done.

Perhaps we also need some members who speak well, and can think on their feet to be talking heads, people who can represent our needs on current affairs programs.

OK, thats my two bobs worth to progress the discussion.

I would love to hear other people's thoughts.