
News
Outback Helper Wanted

New Towing Guide available

Rising fuel cost is only the price of a coffee if this report is to be believed


They are your most precious possessions take care of them.
Transport Concession Changes

Older drives - rule changes



If "ET" needs to "Phone Home" then I am sure you need to as well.

Telstra coverage

Centerlink employment
To supplement income

try Fruit & Veg Picking

Daimler
it may not be the best car to pull a caravan, but it is a nice car

1955 Babyboomers now the females are retirement age


News - Bits and Pieces of items which are relevant to Nomadic Travelers.
Caravan_Towing_Hints
Caravaning_booms_as_stamp_duty_axed:_NSW
Sat_nav_apps_could_be_heading_for_a_dead_end: (new rules for Vic & maybe
NSW)
Car_restraints_to_be_mandatory_for_child_passengers_in_Qld
SA_mobile_phone_ban_for_young_drivers
There_are_traps_for_drivers_in_our_more_obscure_road_rules This article is
written in an amusing vain, so worth readying for the humour plus you may learn
something about the rules you might inadvertently be breaking.
Wisdom_and_ Children_Quotes
Older
Stories, which remain here for those who are new to the site
Tax_and_Pension_Information:
Update_on_a_previous_Story_about_4x4_radical_Conversion_-_Project_TONI
Are_your_Tyres_Killing_You?
Outback_Helpers_Wanted
Rising_Fuel_Prices_-_dont_let_it_stop_you_going_on_that_trip_of_a_lifetime
The_Road_Safety_Council’s_driving_tips_for_the_holidays_(and_all_year_round)
New_NSW_Caravan_&_Camping_Guide
Household_emergency_plan_-_every_home_should_have_one
Interstate_transport_concessions
Do_you_carry_ID_with_you_all_the_time
Can_you_afford_to_be_a_grey_nomad
Changes_to_Call_Signs:
Centrelink_-_Temporary_Employment_Information
Pet-friendly_holidays
Caravan Towing (from Caravan and Camping Industry Association NSW or
CCIA newsletter)
With spring ahead of us, there has never been a better time to jump in the
caravan or camper trailer for a touring holiday. But, before you head off, there
are some things you should consider before you start to tow.
Some things to consider are:
- Checking oil, water, brake fluid, and the battery
- Inspection of all tyres
- Checking the vehicle's wheel nuts have been tightened
- Checking the safety chains are correctly connected
- Limiting the load in the boot of the tow vehicle
These are just some of the initial checks that should be done. For a more
comprehensive checklist to help you on your next towing journey, visit
www.caravan-camping.com.au.
You can also request a copy of the National Caravan & Recreational Vehicle
Towing Guide for more specific towing tips and hints. For more information,
visit www.towingguide.com.au
Porta Potty Chemical, and the use of alternatives:
The use of the good old Porta Potty is a delicate subject for some, but it is an
important one to everyone using this option, especially if you get it wrong. It
seems more people are saying the chemicals, which are on the market expressly
for this purpose, are expensive and strong smelling.
Some campers have turned to alternatives in the form of Nappy soakers. The
generic and therefore cheaper ones, are actually better it seems. The reason
being they are higher in the active ingredient needed, which is sodium
percarbonate. This is the one required to breakdown the solids.
This ingredient is benign in the natural environment, and in septic tanks etc.
because it breaks down to hydrogen peroxide as the main disinfecting agent,
which works by releasing oxygen into the solution, which in turn kills off the
bacteria.
Those using this option have found a cap full (which equates to 1/2 a cup) in
about 500ml of hot water works well, the water must be HOT (but not boiling) for
it to work well, and dissolved properly. People who have found they were not
pleased with the home brand nappy soaker have been using it in cold water, or
just straight into the cassette. So if mixed in hot water and dissolved well, it
works far better.
Apparently a huge number of RV users are changing over to this low impact and
low cost product with considerable success. Why not try it out on your next
trip.
The above was written using information from:
http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/66307/Chemical_toilet_chemicals.aspx
and this one http://caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4524&start=0
Well it looks like the cutting of the tax had the desired effect, lets hope they
don't try and put it back once the economy picks up again.
Caravaning booms as stamp duty axed: NSW 29Aug 2009
The NSW government says its decision to axe stamp duty on caravans has resulted
in a boom for the local tourism industry.
Treasurer Eric Roozendaal said caravan registrations jumped 33 per cent since
stamp duty on the vehicles was abolished on July 1, leading to a new trend in
caravaning holidays.
The economy had experienced a healthy boost as people turned their backs on
overseas trips, but families and small businesses were the biggest winners, Mr
Roozendaal said.
RTA figures show that $887,053 has been waived since the stamp duty was axed,
with 1,574 new and transferred caravan registrations in July 2009, compared with
1,182 at the same time last year.
"NSW families have saved almost $1 million because of this decision - in just
one month alone," Mr Roozendaal said.
"Small businesses in cities and towns across NSW will reap the benefit as more
people holiday locally, and that has a significant flow-on effect for the
state's economy.
"It was a commonsense initiative - which saved NSW families money and, just as
importantly, will support jobs in the caravan retail and servicing industries."
The caravan and camping industry is the fastest growing domestic tourism sector,
with an average of 2,600 caravans sold each year in NSW.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/855793/caravaning-booms-as-stamp-duty-axed-nsw
New laws
in Victoria (9th Nov) and NSW could follow soon after, which means it could be
Australia wide, sooner rather than later.
The following story has been abbreviated, see link below for full version.
Sat
nav apps could be heading for a dead end: Stephen Hutcheon September 21, 2009
Strict new road rules relating to the use of mobile phones by drivers are
threatening to kill the burgeoning market in apps and services that enable
smartphones to be used as satellite navigation systems.
The legal changes will affect any service or software that enables a mobile
phone to be used as an in-car navigation device.
Victoria will roll out the new rules, which will limit drivers' use of mobile
phones and satellite navigation devices, on November 9 .
A spokesperson for VicRoads, the Victorian Government's roads and traffic
authority, said that under the laws - as applied in Victoria - it would be
illegal for drivers to navigate using a mobile that doubles as a satellite
navigation device.
"A phone will only be allowed to be used for its primary purpose," the
spokeswoman said in a telephone interview. "If it's a phone, it's a phone."
The rules are part of the Australian Road Rule 8th Amendment Package, a set of
road and traffic laws that were approved by all state and territory Road
Ministers in February.
A marketing Manger for one company said,
"What we are seeing just reinforces our safety message around [the fact that]
you must use a mounted device [the car kit] in a car and not interact with the
device whilst you are driving," he said. "Essentially, it's about using the
device in a correct manner."
The new laws prohibit a driver from even holding a mobile phone, cradling one on
their shoulder or resting it on their laps - even if the phone is not in use.
Drivers will only be able to use mobile phones if they are placed in
purpose-made cradles and operation is entirely hands-free.
Those caught breaking the new Victorian laws face a $234 fine and the loss of
three demerit points.
VicRoads says research has shown that a driver is four times more likely to
crash while using a mobile phone.
In Victoria, the act of driving while using a mobile ranks among the state's top
three driving offences.
A spokeswoman for the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority said the RTA was "still
working through practical issues" and was unable to say when the harmonised laws
would come into effect in NSW.
"NSW road rules are based on the Australian Road Rules to ensure uniformity with
road rules elsewhere in Australia," she said in an emailed statement.
"States and territories are not compelled to implement Australian Road Rules."
http://www.watoday.com.au/digital-life/cartech/sat-nav-apps-could-be-heading-for-a-dead-end-20090918-fv1v.html
Source: smh.com.au
This law may not affect older travellers, but if you are travelling with
children or grandchildren you should have been doing this already. It is not
just because it is LAW, it is for their safety at risk.
Car
restraints to be mandatory for child passengers in Qld
10 September, 2009
Children up to the age of seven will have to sit in an approved car restraint
under new Queensland laws.
Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the new national child restraint laws
followed a safety review.
A study by the Medical Journal of Australia found the risk of injury or death
was greatly increased where children used adult seatbelts too early, she said.
"There is clear evidence that a properly-fitted restraint can improve your
child's chances of surviving a serious crash by up to 50 per cent," Ms Nolan
said.
The laws, which start in March in Queensland, require all children up to seven
to be appropriately seated in an Australian Safety Standard approved child
restraint or capsule, according to their age and size.
Travelling with an unrestrained or incorrectly restrained child will attract a
fine of $300 and three demerit points.
The RACQ, which helped develop the new laws, said it had long been an area of
concern for the club.
RACQ traffic and safety executive manager John Wikman said 2006 research showed
almost half of Queensland's four- to seven-year-olds were not being properly
restrained.
"Our study found 45 per cent of that vulnerable age group were using improperly
fitted restraints, the incorrect type of child seat or, in the worst cases, no
child restraint at all," Mr Wikman said.
"As well as stipulating that all children up to age seven are appropriately
restrained, the new regulations will guide parents and carers in the selection
of the best type of seat or capsule for their child."
Other road rules from the national package being rolled out across all states
will come into effect in Queensland from October 12.
These include a $300 fine and three demerit points for a driver carrying a
passenger of any age without a seatbelt, where previously a driver was only
liable when the passenger was under 16 years of age.
A driver doing a U-turn over a single continuous centre line will risk a $180
fine and the loss of three demerit points, and driving with front fog lights in
clear weather will risk a $40 fine.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/car-restraints-to-be-mandatory-for-child-passengers-20090910-fjav.html
This one should apply to everyone. How many times have you been caught behind
a vehicle doing silly things like lane wandering, then you realise the driver is chatting away on the phone
(even hands-free ones). They endanger the lives of everyone around them.
SA mobile phone ban 30August , 2009
Young drivers in South Australia will be banned from using hands-free mobile
phones from tomorrow.
Acting road safety minister Paul Caica says the only time a mobile phone can be
used in a car being driven by a Learner or P1 licence holder is once they've
pulled over and parked safely.
He says similar bans are already in place in Victoria, Queensland and New South
Wales and anyone caught breaking it will face a fine of 218 dollars and three
demerit points.
Mr Caica says talking or texting on a mobile phone increases a driver's risk of
being involved in a crash by up to four times.
http://bigpondnews.com/articles/National-Regional/2009/08/30/SA_mobile_phone_ban_367744.html
The following story is written in an amusing vein and worth a read, but it may also highlight some areas of the law you were unaware of, but need to know about.
There are traps
for drivers in our more obscure road rules.
Road rules – there's a million of them.
Or, to put it another way, if you print out the current NSW Road Rules on A4
paper, your printer will spit out 337 pages.
There are so many rules, regulations and special clauses that even with a Rain
Man-like memory for facts and figures you'll struggle to take them in.
Just the ones solely relating to driving next to trams are far too numerous to
cover in this article.
For instance, while you probably know it's illegal to exceed 60km/h in a 60km/h
zone, did you know it's against the rules to spray mud on people waiting at a
bus stop? Talk about a nanny state.
Before we explore some of the other obscure ones, let's check a few definitions.
If you visit the Roads and Traffic Authority website and follow the link to NSW
Road Rules, you'll discover that, logically, an animal being ridden is defined
as "a vehicle" and a person in a wheeled toy is defined as "a pedestrian".
Some rules depend on available light and the Government helpfully provides an
official definition of "darkness". In case you are wondering, this occurs at
"(a) any time during the night [and] (b) any other time when there is
insufficient daylight to render a person dressed in dark clothing discernible at
a distance of 100 metres".
Interesting. But how do you work out at what distance that person wearing dark
clothing is standing? Particularly if you can't see him/her.
Of course, everyone knows wearing a seatbelt is compulsory. Ah-ha, but did you
know you don't need to wear a belt under certain circumstances when driving at
less than
25km/h. Nor while reversing. Or if you've come a cropper with the law.
There's a thoughtful exemption in the following circumstance: "If the vehicle is
a police vehicle and has a caged, or other secured, area designed for the
carriage of passengers." In other words, the people in the back can't be further
booked for not wearing a seatbelt. That might, of course, be the least of their
problems.
In normal circumstances, an unbelted driver with two unbelted passengers will
blow nine demerit points. They'll lose their licence in one fell swoop if they
do it in a special double demerit bonus period.
Downright inexplicable, though, is the provision that: "Taxi drivers are not
required to wear seatbelts." Even less explicable is that so many of them, in
Sydney at least, choose to take advantage of this bizarre privilege,
deliberately forgoing use of the greatest life-saving device of the age. Still,
we should have some sympathy for our taxi drivers – how would you like to be
stuck in a city you didn't know, in a vehicle you couldn't drive properly?
Smoking in cars containing children is now a $250 on-the-spot fine offence,
though this is under the Public Health Act. (That's right, there are myriad
rules that aren't even listed in the official road rules.)
No doubt this latest law came in after careful consideration was given to which
would benefit the public coffers more: letting you smoke, or fining you to stop.
If a passenger lights up, the driver still cops the fine. If, however, one of
the kids lights up, the situation is less clear.
Minutiae is legion in the rules. Riding in a boot, cargo tray or trailer is
outlawed. A motorcyclist must ride a motorcycle with at least one hand on the
handlebars. You cannot tether an animal to a vehicle that is moving "unless the
driver is permitted to do so under another law of this jurisdiction".
A person must not get on, or into, a moving vehicle unless (a) the person is
engaged in the door-to-door delivery or collection of goods, or in the
collection of waste or garbage [or] (b) the vehicle is not travelling at a speed
over 5km/h.
The rules describing every possible scenario at every type of roundabout are
complicated enough to make you realise why "who dares wins" is so often the
accepted practice.
There's even a suggestion that many of the road rules apply to people on
bicycles. As if.
A person must not start a vehicle, or drive a vehicle, in a way that makes
unnecessary noise or smoke, though this seems to be universally waived in the
case of Harley-Davidsons.
Rule 299 prohibits a television receiver or visual display unit in (or on) the
vehicle "operating while the vehicle is moving, or is stationary but not parked,
if any part of the image on the screen is visible to the driver from the normal
driving position". Such a screen isn't allowed to distract other drivers,
either. Putting it on Channel Nine should guarantee that.
A hand-held phone is too dangerous for you to use while driving, though the
danger apparently disappears in the hands of the driver of a police or emergency
vehicle.
A hands-free phone is equally illegal "if it causes you to lose proper control
of your vehicle". Losing proper control of your vehicle is also an offence when
not using a hands-free phone. Go figure.
The use of lights is governed by many of the laws. They include this curious
provision: "If the driver is overtaking a vehicle, the driver may briefly switch
the headlights from low beam to high beam immediately before the driver begins
to overtake the vehicle."
Rule 291-2 would appear to target drivers of English cars of a certain age. "The
driver ... must not drive the vehicle without adequate precautions being taken
to prevent waste oil or grease from the machinery ... from dropping on the
roadway."
A recent change to the NSW Road Rules makes it an offence to drive a wheeled
recreational vehicle such as a tricycle, pedal car or set of rollerblades on a
road with a dividing line, a median strip or a speed limit that is more than
50km/h.
If fining children in billycarts $54 is what it takes to keep this great land
safe, it's a price we must pay.
Speaking of hits to the hip pocket, the contravening of most road rules in NSW
involves a fine and the allocation of demerit points.
Driving with an animal in your lap is an offence worth $324 and three demerit
points, unless you do it in a school zone. In that case your fluffy Pomeranian
has cost you $405 and four points. A similar penalty is applied if you ride a
motorcycle with Fido on the fuel tank.
An exception is provided for the purposes of farming, so it's always worth
arguing the nearby presence of sheep and your fluffy Pomeranian's ability to
round them up.
The most exotic penalties are reserved for "street racing and burnout offences"
under the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Car Hoons) Act of 2008.
These include the possibility of an $1100 fine for a burnout, or three times
that for an "aggravated burnout". That's for your first.
Do it a second time – or engage in street racing – and nine months' imprisonment
is on the cards.
These laws extend to "a hoon driver's mate who willingly participates in,
urge[s] others to participate in, photograph[s] or film[s] to promote or
organise hoon activity".
And police can go beyond just clamping, impounding and confiscating some
offending vehicles.
Certain confiscated vehicles can now be released to the RTA for crash testing
"to investigate the potential effects of certain modifications on overall
crashworthiness".
The announcement of this provision added that the "wrecks of these vehicles will
be displayed". So stand by for beaten-up WRXs and Supras strung up like captured
partisans in occupied Europe.
What's the most bizarre road rule you know? Have your say at: drive.com.au/blogs
The reasons for the rules
While some of our road rules are laughable, there is a serious side to them.
One can debate the cynical way our speeding and parking laws are enforced but
laws in general are no bad thing.
Having a comprehensive set of rules for drivers, pedestrians, car-makers and
road builders (and the firepower to make sure they are adhered to) has a
dramatic effect on saving lives.
Wherever people drive unsafe cars badly and neglect to wear seatbelts or helmets
through ignorance or misplaced machismo (the latter very much the case in
southern Europe), the road toll skyrockets.
The latest Global Status Report on Road Safety, released by the World Health
Organisation in June, reports 1.2 million people die on the roads each year.
The survey gives India the dubious honour of having the world's highest annual
road toll, with 106,000 traffic deaths, compared with about 89,000 in China.
Other reports have drawn a direct link between the extent of corruption and road
fatalities. The more of the first, the more of the second.
Wealthy countries, such as Australia, came out of the WHO survey well.
Although every fatality is one too many, our 1616 deaths in 2007 (the report
used 2006 and 2007 figures) is more than two-thirds down on our 1970 figure,
when measured per capita.
The WHO report found 90 per cent of road deaths occur in low- and middle-income
countries, despite these having less than half the world's vehicles. The reason?
A lack of "road safety laws relating to key risk factors that are sufficiently
comprehensive in scope".
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald http://www.smh.com.au/
Wisdom Quotes
Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach him how to fish and you get rid
of him all weekend.
-- Zenna Schaffer
How to make a million dollars: First, get a million dollars.
-- Steve Martin
Why don't they make the whole plane out of that black box stuff.
-- Steven Wright
If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn
fool about it.
-- W.C. Fields
Some folks are wise and some otherwise.
-- Josh Billings
Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.
-- Jimi Hendrix
A candidate is someone who gets money from the rich and votes from the poor to
protect them from each other.
-- Unknown
Wise men make proverbs, but fools repeat them.
-- Samuel Palmer
Whenever I'm caught between two evils, I take the one I've never tried.
-- Mae West
The pen is mightier than the sword, and considerably easier to write with.
-- Marty Feldman
Children Quotes
Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell the name
will carry.
-- Bill Cosby
Everyone should have kids. They are the greatest joy in the world. But they are
also terrorists. You'll realize this as soon as they are born, and they start
using sleep deprivation to break you.
-- Ray Romano
Children really brighten up a household - they never turn the lights off.
-- Ralph Bus
Experts say you should never hit your children in anger. When is a good time?
When you're feeling festive?
-- Roseanne Barr
I've got seven kids, the three words you hear most around my house are: "Hello,
goodbye, and I'm pregnant.
-- Dean Martin
To be a successful father there's one absolute rule: when you have a kid, don't
look at it for the first two years.
-- Ernest Hemingway
Kids. They're not easy. But there has to be some penalty for sex.
-- Bill Maher
When children are doing nothing, they are doing mischief.
-- Henry Fielding (Tom Jones, 1749)
The trouble with children is that they're not returnable.
-- Quentin Crisp
There are only two things a child will share willingly -- communicable diseases
and his mother's age.
-- Benjamin Spock
I love children, especially when they cry, for then someone takes them away.
-- Nancy Mitford
We spend the first twelve months of our children's lives teaching them to walk
and talk and the next twelve telling them to sit down and shut up.
-- Phyllis Diller
Madam, there's no such thing as a tough child - if you parboil them first for
seven hours, they always come out tender.
-- W.C. Fields
The first half of our life is ruined by our parents and the second half by our
children.
-- Clarence Darrow
Pretty much all the honest truth telling there is in the world is done by
children.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes
You see, money's not everything in life is it? but it keeps you in touch with
your children...
-- Johnnie Casson
A boy's story is the best that is ever told.
-- Charles Dickens
A scout troop consists of twelve little kids dressed like schmucks following a
big schmuck dressed like a kid.
-- Jack Benny
Human beings are the only creatures on earth that allow their children to come
back home.
-- Bill Cosby.
Older Stories, which remain here for those who are new to the site
Tax_and_Pension_Information:
Update_on_a_previous_Story_about_4x4_radical_Conversion_-_Project_TONI
Are_your_Tyres_Killing_You?
Outback_Helpers_Wanted
Rising_Fuel_Prices_-_dont_let_it_stop_you_going_on_that_trip_of_a_lifetime
The_Road_Safety_Council’s_driving_tips_for_the_holidays_(and_all_year_round)
New_NSW_Caravan_&_Camping_Guide
Household_emergency_plan_-_every_home_should_have_one
Interstate_transport_concessions
Do_you_carry_ID_with_you_all_the_time
Can_you_afford_to_be_a_grey_nomad
Changes_to_Call_Signs:
Centrelink_-_Temporary_Employment_Information
Pet-friendly_holidays
Tax and Pension Information:
The new new financial year brings changes to tax and Pensions. The following
information is from a Financial advisor belonging to one of the larger organisations. It
is not intended to be Personal Financial advice, and you should consult your own
Financial Advisor for information about your own circumstances.






# This only affects you if you are assessed under the Income Test


Update on a previous Story about 4x4 radical Conversion - Project TONI
For those members who are aware of the radical conversion of TONI the
Nissan/Toyota done by the member in the above story. He has just returned from a
trip from NSW to Victoria, which gave TONI the workout it really needed to prove
itself.
It seems the conversion has exceeded expectation, and the trial was a resounding
success. Rather than put the update on this page, it is near the bottom of the
page which describes the technical details.
So for the mechanically minded who want the full story please follow
this
link
Are your Tyres Killing You?
Tyre Age - Before you do anything else check your Tyres.
Be sure to check more than just the "appearance" of the tyres, you should include
the manufactured date as well. If you are buying the vehicle, then check the tyre age
even if it is a new van. When buying "new" tyres check their age as well. In a
News
story from the US, it was discovered that many companies were selling tyres as "New", even though they were
already more than 6 years old. Do not
accept them, because rubber deteriorates and it is essential that tyres are in prime
condition, especially on Australian roads.
How do I tell the age of a tyre?
Tyres carry a DOT number on the sidewall that gives a production date (the DOT
might be on the inside wall of the tyre). Since the
year 2000 the numbers consist of 4 digits instead of 3. The first two digits
indicate the calendar week of production, and the next two the year of
production.
In this illustration, the "3502" the 35 is the 35th week and the 02 = 2002
(if there are only 3 last numbers, then the tyre was made between 1990 to 1999
and is already far too old).

See full story
on the Towing page
Rising Fuel Prices - don't let it stop you going on that trip of a
lifetime


This information
is about spending
patterns: the cost of your fuel Vs the cost of the Trip in general. What they
are saying is that even with rising Fuel prices, there is only about 2% more
cost per day. The costs are assuming that two people are travelling, and they are
driving a 24ft diesel motorhome.
If you are driving less, or more than that, then it will change the outcome. Site
fees, food and beverages make up 75% of your cost, but it does not say how are those figures
arrived at. If they are costed at dining-out prices, so by eating
home prepared meals and drinks, the cost will be considerably less.
Keep in mind that home cooked meals and drinks are what you are spend money on
already, so they are already forming part of your budget while at home. The cost on
the road may be a bit more, because prices in remote areas can be higher, and
spoilage could be more of an issues while travelling.
To get an idea of how much it might cost this site has a calculator you use
http://www.caravan-camping.com.au/tips-guides-publications/fuel-calculator
For the full story on this information in a booklet issued by
www.caravan-camping.com.au Fuel Guide Booklet
The Road Safety Council’s driving tips for the holidays (and all year round):
Don’t drive tired.
Make sure you are well rested before leaving for your destination. Take planned
rest stops throughout your trip and be well aware of any early signs of fatigue,
including wandering thoughts, missing a gear, road sign or exit and slowing or
speeding unintentionally. If you feel tired you should not be driving.
Ensure your vehicle is properly maintained.
Check your tyres, windscreen wipers, oil and water. Car safety features such
side and curtain airbags, seatbelt reminder systems and active head restraints
will all help lessen the impact should you become involved in a crash. Features
such as Electronic Stability Control will help prevent a crash from occurring in
the first place. If you are buying a new or used vehicle these holidays, be sure
to check out the ANCAP star safety ratings at www.rac.com.au.
If you are going to drink, plan not to drive.
Arrange a skipper, ask someone to collect you, call a cab, take public transport
or stay overnight. With a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 the risk of being
involved in a crash doubles, with a BAC of 0.08, you are seven times more likely
to crash and 25 times more likely with a BAC of 0.15. Plan ahead – it’s not
worth the risk.
Always ensure you and your passengers wear a seatbelt.
It doesn't matter if you are only travelling a few kilometers because most road
crashes happen close to home and it does not make any difference if you sticking
to the posted speed limits or travelling very fast because a crash at 40
kilometers is like falling from a two storey building onto concrete.
Allow a little extra time
there is more traffic out on the roads so allow extra time to get to your
destination. It is better to take a little longer to arrive than to take
unnecessary risks, such as speeding and not arrive at all. Inappropriate or
excessive speed was a factor in nearly 30 per cent of all road deaths last year.
It is simple physics - the faster you travel the harder you hit and the more
severe your injuries will be.
Take the opportunity to help your children become safer drivers
Allow learner drivers to drive on short trips. Research shows that 120 hours of
supervised driving experience across a variety of conditions, is the ideal
amount to ensure the upmost safety of young drivers once they start driving
solo. Use the spare time you have over these holidays to help the new driver in
your family become a safe driver.
Limit your distractions
Turn off your mobile phone, have your route planned prior to leaving so you
limit the use of your GPS or street directory, secure items in your car so they
don’t roll around/fall off the seat or dash and stop for meal breaks rather than
trying to drive and eat.
Use your headlights
Use your headlights at times when it is harder to see oncoming traffic, such as
when it is raining, at dusk and at dawn, on shadowy roads and at night.
If a large animal such as a kangaroo suddenly appears on the road in front of
you, brake firmly and sound your horn.
Do not try to swerve around the animal as you are likely to run onto the gravel
verge and lose control or roll over or hit oncoming traffic.
Always be alert for other road users
Always be alert for other road users, particularly vulnerable road users that
are often harder to see including motorcyclists, bike riders and pedestrians.
We can all do our bit to make our roads safer these holidays….......
from the office of road safety
http://www.officeofroadsafety.wa.gov.au/index.cfm?event=news#tips
Outback Helpers Wanted
The letter (on the left) spells out what has been said on these pages before,
Australia needs helpers. You may be older, and your paid skills might not be
required any more, but you will be welcome especially in SA and WA it seems.
This letter was in The Islander - News from Kangaroo Island SA.
How about answering their plea for help?
Contact Jean Winterfield 08 8725 4463 Email:
jeane@icisp.net.au in SA,
or
Jenny Watters 08 9981 2943 Email:
g.jwatters@bigpond.com in WA
New NSW Caravan & Camping Guide and the National Caravan and Recreational
Vehicle Towing Guide will help you to tour, buy and tow
The latest editions of the popular NSW Caravan & Camping Holiday & Touring Guide
and the National Caravan and Recreational Vehicle Towing Guide are now
available. The 2009 edition of the NSW Caravan, Camping & RV Products &
Services Buyer's Guide is due in February 2009.
The NSW Caravan & Camping Holiday & Touring Guide features 18 regions across New
South Wales with detailed listings of caravan and holiday parks along with
facilities and location attractions and events in the region. It also includes
listings of caravan and camping product and touring service suppliers.
The Holiday Guide is available for FREE at Visitor Information Centers across
New South Wales and at caravan and camping shows nationally. The Holiday Guide
is also available by calling 02 9615 9999 or via www.tournsw.com.au with a $5
postage and handling fee.
The National Caravan and Recreational Vehicle Towing Guide includes information
regarding the legal requirements of towing, as well as associated technical and
mechanical considerations. And for the first time, this edition of the Towing
Guide includes reference to fifth wheeler and motorhome A-frame towing.
The Towing Guide is available for FREE by logging onto
www.towingguide.com.au.
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Consider making a donation of money, or Blood
Household emergency plan - every home should have one
The Red Cross have downloadable household emergency plans which will help you be better prepared
for an emergency. Use the documents to record evacuation routes from your home and
important numbers and contacts. There are many useful tips and ideas to help
save you and your valuables, e.g Mortgage or Deed documents, photographs and
other portable information, which could be stored off-site. Visit the site
before the problem occurs in your area and be ready to leave your home if you
have to.
http://www.redcross.org.au/ourservices_acrossaustralia_emergencyservices_resources.htm
Concessional travel: which is almost Australia wide, at last. It is not in All
States yet, but it may be in the future it seems.
Interstate transport concessions - this was sent to NSW card holders Feb 09
NSW Seniors Card holders can now access public transport concessions when
travelling interstate as part of a new scheme funded by the Australian
Government. For example, a NSW Seniors Card holder travelling to Melbourne is
entitled to purchase public transport fares at the same concessional price as
Victorian Seniors Card holders.
Seniors visiting NSW from other states or territories will also be able to get
concession fares on NSW public transport. Holders of Seniors Cards from other
Australian States and Territories can purchase either half fare concession
tickets or a $2.50 Pensioner Excursion Ticket (PET) for all day, multi-modal
(bus, train and ferry) travel in the Sydney Metropolitan Area and Outer
Metropolitan Areas.
The new scheme commenced on 1 January in New South Wales, Victoria, South
Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern
Territory.
In Queensland interstate Seniors Card holders can access a 50% concession on
metropolitan bus, rail and ferry services and a 25% discount on long-distance
Travel train services. Discussions with the Western Australian Government are
continuing.
A uniform system across Australia will help seniors travel interstate to see
family and friends and makes domestic travel more affordable.
For more information on concession fares click here or contact the Transport
Infoline directly on 131500 or visit
www.131500.com.au
Do you carry ID with you all the time?
If not, why not? Our ID is important to us, but it is essential if we fall ill,
involved in an accident, or a disaster such as those experienced in Queensland
and Victoria recently If you are not able to speak for yourself, who will
speak for you? Have you considered wearing some form of ID all the time? You may
have an allergy, or a medical condition which could mean vital information is
required for your treatment. If you are not able to let people know, then
treatment may be delayed, or worse, the wrong treatment given. It is vital that
life threatening information should be with you at all times.
This new Australian Company may have the answers. There are various options to
choose from, so there will be an option perfect to your circumstances. The site
is owned an operated by a mother of a child with a disability, so is aware or
the need for identity. One of her sales pitches when talking to mothers of young
children is "you label your child's lunchbox but fail to label you most precious
possession, your child."
She is right, and as an adult we should also have that information with us all
the time. If jogging, swimming or just walking the dog and we are taken ill,
what information have you got with you? So for your own safety and that of your
loved ones, why not visit this new site.

The following news items reinforce what has been said on this Website before,
which is that planning is extremely important.
Can you afford to be a grey nomad?
-By Tony Rigby June 29, 2008 12:00am News.com.au
THEY roam the highways in motorhomes and caravans with names like "Lingerlonger''
and "Goneroamin'' in search of that endless holiday lifestyle.
They are the famous (or infamous) grey nomads -- retirees living out the fantasy
that sustains workers through their toughest days -- living an easy and
economical life on the road touring this great country.
There is no end in sight for this interesting social phenomenon, with an
estimated 17,000 caravans to be sold around Australia in the next 12 months --
and 80 per cent of those will be bought by people aged over 50.
So what can the next generation of grey nomads do to make sure they are
financially fit for the
long road ahead?
Here are five simple tips to help make this dream a reality.
Know the costs before you go -
First, a word of warning. Potential nomads are advised to rent a van for a
week or two and see whether the dream actually fits reality and whether they are
physically capable of unhitching, hitching, reversing and parking.
In other words, you must try before you buy.
First on the shopping list is the caravan or campervan, known on the road as a
"rig''.
This can cost anything from a few thousand dollars to a few hundred thousand.
A lot of retirees buy new, live the dream, don't like it or don't want to do it
a second time.
So it may pay to research the used van and RV market and compare. Depreciation
has to be factored in.
Buying a near new or relatively new van can save you quite a bit by avoiding the
GST and dealer profit. But remember to have it inspected.
The next biggest expenses are accommodation, food and fuel. Food is fairly
constant and comes in at about a $100 a week for a couple. Accommodation for a
caravan park is generally $20-$30 a night but can vary depending on the
facilities offered. Accommodation costs can also be reduced by staying in
National Parks or by camping in the bush for free.
It stands to reason that petrol costs are totally variable, depending on how far
and how quickly you travel.
There is also variation in fuel prices across states, and the further nomads get
from the big cities the more expensive the fuel will generally be. In the bush,
be prepared to pay 30-40 per cent more for fuel than in the city.
The size of your campervan or trailer should also be factored in -- do rough
calculations based on the known fuel consumption of towing your rig.
Budgeting -
The next question is how to fund the new lifestyle? Once the traveller has
costed out their rig for the next three months to five years, how's the budget
looking?
A tip here is to speak with some grey nomads who have actually done some touring
and get an indication of what it really costs.
It may pay to rent out the empty home and use some of the income to fund the
tour.
The rent will obviously need to be declared as income but rates, insurance and
other related expenses can then be claimed as tax deductions for the period the
property is rented.
A smart budget should also include a reasonable allowance for making the most of
the time away.
Inevitably, travellers will want to do extra activities such as day cruises, but
these can end up costing quite a lot of money unless the nomads remain very
disciplined in their spending.
A budget should also allow for maintaining the vehicle on the road. If the van
breaks down, it will more than likely happen somewhere where the costs of
getting it fixed are horrendous, so plans need to be made for regular servicing
and maintenance.
Working holiday -
Research commissioned by the Department of Education and Training on the
"potential'' for grey nomads to close the skills gap found nearly 60 per cent of
those surveyed were interested in taking up paid work while on tour.
While the big trip is often taken in the early years of retirement, more baby
boomers are looking at it as part of scaling down their involvement in the
workforce.
With more older Australians wanting to maintain some type of working life,
people are naturally asking what can they do while on the road and if they can
easily re-enter the workforce after such an extended break.
Insurance -
A big trip is also as good a reason as any to review insurance.
Is the potential nomad's life, trauma and health insurance up to date and
appropriate for their needs? Do they have interstate ambulance cover? Is their
home adequately insured -- and will the cover still apply if they are leaving
the property unoccupied?
Some insurance policies have conditions where the insurance is voided if the
house is uninhabited for an extended period.
Hit the road -
Older travellers are encouraged to take precautions. They should plan well,
take their time and be prepared. Even if the nomad has a set-and-forget
investment portfolio, it's a good idea to leave some contact details with their
investment adviser and make time to review their investments before they go.
The review should focus on whether there is anything on the horizon that may
affect their investments and, if so, what actions or plans can be put in place
to deal with them.
Once the new nomad has covered all these bases, then it's time to hit the road
and start experiencing all that this great lifestyle has to offer.
http://www.news.com.au/business/money/story/0,25479,23941086-5013954,00.html
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Changes to Call Signs:
For those of you who are 4x4 drivers and who may not have heard about changes to
Call signs which come into effect next year. For more information check out this
document
Important Changes to VKS737 call signs also
see more on our site about Mobile
Communications
For more about
VKS737's go to
their site to get all the information.
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Centrelink - Temporary Employment Information National Media Release Friday, 11 August 2006 (as but you may not have seen it at that time it is repeated here)
Mr Jongen said 'Grey Nomads' – Age Pensioners who were travelling around Australia – often see opportunities to take advantage of these flexible rules to enhance their holiday.
"If a customer has employment income that is variable to predict, Centrelink may use an average amount projected over 12 months," Mr Jongen explained.
"If the period of employment is short but the income earnings are generous, a customer can decide to suspend their Age Pension altogether. It's possible to suspend a payment for up to three months, and then restore it when employment ends without having to restart the whole pension claim process.
"This is especially useful for seasonal work that retirees might pick up while travelling around regional and rural Australia."The Income Test includes all income, not just income from earnings. It's important you understand how any income earned from superannuation, deemed income from financial investments, foreign pensions and income from real estate might also affect your payment."
Mr Jongen urged Age Pensioners to discuss their individual circumstances with Centrelink if in doubt by calling on Ph: 13 2300
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Pet-friendly holidays 3:28p.m. 10 December 2007
Taking a holiday? Chances are if you are a baby boomer, you just may be taking the family pet along for the ride.
Research from Tourism Australia shows the number of mature-aged Australians travelling increased at a faster rate than younger travellers between 2000 and 2004, and a Newspoll report showed older travellers were more likely to take their pet with them.
Self confessed “grey nomads” Joe and Anne Moharich of Taringa, often take their cocker spaniel with them when they travel to Peregian Beach.
“He really helps us fit in wherever we are and our travels would feel incomplete without him,” they said.
The Petcare Information and Advisory Service (PIAS) agrees it can be beneficial for both pets and people to enjoy a holiday together – particularly if it is for a longer period.
“Pets are very much a part of the Australian family, with over 53% of households having a dog and or a cat,” Susie Chaseling from PIAS said. “Pets provide companionship and are a way of getting to meet other people so – for older people – it is particularly important to maintain these benefits.”
Our advice is to do your research before you leave home. There are many websites that have information on pet-friendly accommodation, with everything from caravan parks to luxury hotels.”
PIAS recommends that before taking to the road with your pet, you should consider these tips:
1. Make sure your pet is wearing identification that will allow you to be contacted wherever you are. A mobile number on your pet’s tag is a good option.
2. Remember to pack for your pet. It’s a good idea to bring a portable bowl, your pet’s favourite toys or blankets for familiarity and a supply of special treats.
3. Many places welcome pets and you can research the options on websites before you embark on your journey.
4. Take a harness or carrier box as there may be times on your travels when you need to secure your pet within the vehicle. Some cats enjoy travel but they should be confined whenever travelling to avoid any mishaps.
5. Dogs love the open air from a moving car’s window but it can be unsafe. It is better to keep the dog inside the car and let it enjoy the fresh air when you get to your destination.
6. Take a simple pet first-aid kit containing bandages, antiseptic cream, tweezers (to remove foreign objects from fur) and pet travel medication.
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