imotorhome emagazine issue 79 - 05 sep 2015 2

66
Résistance! Piste de Survivor! Saying farewell to our first longtermer Project Polly A lot’s happened since last issue… Trakka’s Torino Xtra is at home no matter the season… Postcards… A snapshot of Malcolm’s Canadian travels! iMotorhome magazine because getting there is half the fun... ISSUE 79: SEP 05 2015 Win! $50 for the best letter!

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Page 1: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

ReacutesistancePiste de

SurvivorSaying farewell to our first longtermer

Project PollyA lotrsquos happened since last issuehellip

Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra is at home no matter the seasonhellip Postcardshellip

A snapshot of Malcolmrsquos Canadian travels

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

Issue 79 sep 05 2015

Win$50 for the

best letter

Designed and built with travelling and the great outdoors in mind The storage space yoursquoll find in each Horizon

motorhome is surprising

To find out more about the range visit horizonmotorhomescomau SOLD

EXCLUSIVELY BY

BALLINA CAMPERVAN amp MOTO

RHOME CENTRE

299 River S

treet B

allina NSW

2478

02 6681 15

55 | b

cmcc

omau

SGG Pty Ltd Lic No MD11739 MVRL23910

A Home for

Our innovative design team have used 20 years of experience to utilise every inch of available space allowing you to take almost everything you could possibly want on your travels With a mass of drawers overhead

cupboards shelving wardrobes and large boot space you have room for everything including the kitchen sink Thatrsquos why satisfaction really is built into each and every Horizon Motorhome

Everything

To find out more about our range of lsquobuilt to perfectionrsquo motorhomes visit horizonmotorhomescomau or call our exclusive dealer BCMC on 02 6681 1555

horizonmotorhomescomau

iMotorhome eMagazine is published twice monthly and available by free subscription from wwwimotorhomecomau

Your letters and contributions are always welcome

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Published by iMotorhomePO Box 1738 Bowral NSW 2576 Australia

ABN 34 142 547 719

T +614 14 604 368

E infoimotorhomecomau

W wwwimotorhomecomau

EditorialPublisherManaging Editor

Richard Robertson

T 0414 604 368

E richardimotorhomecomau

Roadtest Editor

Malcolm Street

E malcolmimotorhomecomau

Contributors

Jess Ciampa Emily Barker and Allan Whiting

Design and ProductionDesign amp Production Manager

Agnes Nielsen

E agnesimotorhomecomau

Advertising Sales amp MarketingBusiness Development Manager

Clarinda Hoiberg

E clarindaimotorhomecomau

LegalAll content of iMotorhome eMagazine and website is copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content however no responsibility is accepted for any inconvenience andor loss arising from reading andor acting upon information contained within iMotorhome eMagazine or the iMotorhome website

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

About iMotorhome | 3

Designed and built with travelling and the great outdoors in mind The storage space yoursquoll find in each Horizon

motorhome is surprising

To find out more about the range visit horizonmotorhomescomau SOLD

EXCLUSIVELY BY

BALLINA CAMPERVAN amp MOTO

RHOME CENTRE

299 River S

treet B

allina NSW

2478

02 6681 15

55 | b

cmcc

omau

SGG Pty Ltd Lic No MD11739 MVRL23910

A Home for

Our innovative design team have used 20 years of experience to utilise every inch of available space allowing you to take almost everything you could possibly want on your travels With a mass of drawers overhead

cupboards shelving wardrobes and large boot space you have room for everything including the kitchen sink Thatrsquos why satisfaction really is built into each and every Horizon Motorhome

Everything

To find out more about our range of lsquobuilt to perfectionrsquo motorhomes visit horizonmotorhomescomau or call our exclusive dealer BCMC on 02 6681 1555

horizonmotorhomescomau

The Most Recognised Name in Motorhomesreg

2015 motorhome range now available nationwide

Proudly Australian designed and built in our Brisbane factory

Accept no imitations

Find a Winnebago dealership near you Visit

wwwgowinnebagocomau

Licensee and authorised distributor of Winnebago Industries Inc Forest City Iowa USA

AUSTRALIA amp NEW ZEALAND

2014_iMotorhome_AprilMayJune_FullPage_240315indd 1 21042015 21454 PM

Forty years ago tonight (if yoursquore reading this on publication day) I was lying in Sydneyrsquos St George Hospital following a motorcycle accident that could easily have claimed my life I was 17 years old

In my memory the events of that day and evening are something of a blur I was working as a motorcycle courier for a city-based delivery company and had been on the road for about 10 hours It had rained most of the day and I was cold wet despite my wet weather gear and couldnrsquot wait to get home Normally I only worked the CBD and inner suburbs finishing around 530 pm But on that Friday night a van had broken down somewhere in the Inner West and I was asked to collect a package from it and deliver it out Paramatta way Saying yes when all I wanted to do was go home proved a fateful decision Having delivered the parcel I headed home but when only 15 minutes away fatigue and youthful misjudgement combined and I ran an orange light colliding with a turning Hillman

When I left hospital ten and a half weeks later ndash eight weeks in traction with a broken pelvis and two and a half weeks learning to walk again ndash my world was a different place Still I went back to the job that nearly killed me before deciding to buy a ute and hopefully make 21

In hindsight the accident was the biggest pivotal moment in my life and I can trace who I am and where I am today directly from it Who I am is the result of cheating death but becoming acutely aware of my mortality ndash something that has never left me ndash and where I am is a result of the compensation I received a few years later

My father was a self-made man and when the money came though had a business opportunity for me in Melbourne Jumping at the chance to do

something new I moved south but within a year sold the business and took up a job as a tour guide on Outback coach camping tours That began my journey through the travel industry which lead to travel writing motoring journalism and now iMotorhome 40 years later

Irsquove often wondered where Irsquod be if not for that accident Occasionally I drive thorough the intersection where that poor Hillman met its end ndash ironically just down the road from Malcolm ndash but therersquos no emotion as I have no recollection except for a fleeting moment in the ambulance and some of the time in Casualty Our lives can turn in an instant and I think it was General MacArthur who said something loosely along the lines of ldquoIn war life and death turn on the blink of an eyerdquo So can it at any time as Irsquove discovered

Anniversary aside Irsquom sharing this to encourage anyone who has come through a traumatic experience not to dwell too much on it Embrace life and look for new opportunities I realise that can be easier said than done but unlike four decades ago there are support groups and services available that can make a real difference Newton said an object in a uniform state of motion will remain that way unless acted upon by an external force My life changed completely after that accident If yoursquove experienced a major event and your world and options are different now donrsquot be afraid to embrace them Itrsquos remarkable what good can come from a seemingly bad experience

HAPPy AnnivErSAry

On my mind | 5

Richard

6 | Content

3 About UsWho we are where and other legal stuff

62 Mobile Tech BeachsafeSurf Life Saving Australiarsquos app to keep you safe on our beaches

66 Next IssueWhatrsquos coming up and which shows are on soon

9 ResourcesFind back issues and more on our website

24 MarketplaceThe latest Marketplace offers

5 On my MindHappy Anniversary

14 NewsWhatrsquos happening in the wider RV world - and beyond

28 Touring Test Trakka Torino XtraMalcolm hops down to the snow for a short break away

26 Freedom CampingOur regular roundup of whatrsquos happening in the world of free campinghellip

42 Project PollyUnlocking her dirty little secrets as we get down to businesshellip

58 Travel PostcardsA snapshot of the unusual from Malcolmrsquos holiday adventure

11 On your MindShare your thoughts for the chance to win $50

65 Advertisers IndexAn A to Z of whorsquos in this issue

52 Feature SurvivorA life taken low is redeemed ndash with the help of a motorhome

Caravan_MOT_3Models_AVIDAindd 1 250415 744 PM

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

iMotorhome

reso

urce

s

because getting there is half the fun

Ask a Question

Back Issues

Road Tests

SubscriptionMarketplace

Reader Survey

Reader Review

User Guide

Magazine Resources

Review and images by Malcolm Street

Dethleffs lsquobabyrsquo A-class is something to ogle athellip

Esprit de Cor Blimey

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

resources | 9

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

Hi just reading the latest edition great job Just a suggestion in relation to the mattress issues in your van we found our mattress lacking on long term trips We looked at a few options including a latex and slat under-system but at over $1000 it was way too much Instead we solved the problem for $18 by buying two packs of the clip together foam squares used as exercise mats (try Repco or Bunnings) We use it as underlay and it only raised the mattress by 25 mm The high density foam has the added bonus of providing great heat insulation as well as supporting the existing mattress We used the squares that had 25 mm holes in them to allow the mattress to

breathe ndash well thats my theory at least It might work for you and you could add more layers cheaply if you want a softer feel

Cheers David

Cheers indeed David as yoursquoll read in this issuersquos Project Polly update Wersquove taken your advice although for a couple of reasons we bought carpet-backed mats Havenrsquot tried them yet but I think theyrsquoll be an affordable step in the right direction Please accept this issue $50 prize for your suggestion which will at least pay for your mats ndash with coffee money left over

Itrsquos only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind you should be able to have yours too If you have anything to say ndash or ask ndash just drop a line to lettersimotorhomecomau and wersquoll share it with our readers Wersquoll also reward

the most interesting useful or thoughtful letter each issue with $50 to help you on your way

Mattress of Fact

Win $50 for the best letterOn your mind | 11

Macksville Mystery

Fiamma Issues

12 | On your mind

Re RV Friendly Macksville went there yesterday to check out the Lions Park where you stayed The area is marked No overnight Camping but you were not seeing things There is a sign on the southern entry to town proclaiming it RV Friendly It is marked as a CMCA sign that doesnt quite fit in with the contrary signs in the parking areaThere were three motorhomes there yesterday afternoon at four orsquoclock so perhaps they donrsquot enforce the rule I for one will stay there on the way back from Brisbane in about a month As they say you should rest every two hours and once settled in will not move unless directed to by the police

Cheers Adrian

Thanks Adrian Irsquove since learned that Macksville had its RV Friendly status revoked a couple of years back something to do with dump point location and parking proximity to the town centre I believe Anyway the sign is still there (although we couldnrsquot find it again when we went looking but Irsquom blaming fatigue) and I think yoursquore right in spirit at least Macksville is RV Friendly ndash even if the parking sign isnrsquot

Dear Sirs first of all my congratulations for such an interesting magazine I have been sifting through all 2015 and 2014 issues on your free PDF archive these last two days I noted that when there is an issue with Dometic you get in touch with their service department It would be nice if you could also forward any issues to me We have two valuable importers in Australia ndash Coast-to-Coast and Camec ndash but issues so strong to warrant a readerrsquos letter are coming back to us anyway

Thanks again John-David Pozzi Managing Director Fiamma SpA Italy

Thank you John-David for your kind words Rest assured if we hear of any further Fiamma product issues wersquoll be certain to share them with you

The inaugural iMotorhome get-together is being held at of one of Australiarsquos most interesting historical sites ndash Joadja Creek Set deep in a valley on the western fringe of the Southern Highlands of NSW this tranquil and picturesque location was once a thriving industrial centre and township complete with its own railway

Come and meet the iMotorhome team enjoy a guided site tour a tour of the recently completed Joadja Whisky Distillery and delight in an authentic Spanish tapas dinner followed by a few drinks by the camp fire

Wersquove booked out the valley for the weekend but space limited to about 20 motorhomes so book early and secure your spot

Date 11-13 September 2015

Location Joadja Creek Heritage Site NSW

Cost $59 per person

Whatrsquos Includedbull Entry fee

bull 2-nights non-powered camping (FriSat) with basic facilities available

bull Guided historic site tour by the owner

bull Tour of Joadja Whisky Distillery

bull Spanish tapas dinner on Saturday night

ExtrasExtra night (Sun) $6 per person

Beer with dinner $5 each

Wine with dinner $6 glass

Bookings

Email infoimotorhomecomau with your name and contact details and wersquoll put you on the list Payment via EFT required to confirm booking Space is limited so contact us today

Wersquove Booked Out The Valley

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

1 Due to licensing restrictions BYO is not available with the Saturday night dinner but okay at other times (like around the camp fire)

2 Access is via several kilometres of dirt road The final 2 km can be tricky after heavy rain and we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the event due to weather conditions In either case a full refund would be offered

3 Access isnrsquot recommended for coach-sized motorhomes but anything up to about 9 m will be fine

Fine Print (please read)

Click for Google Maps

now includes

Friday night

sausage sizzle

14 | news

LAST CHANCEhellip

WELCOME ABOARD

Next weekend ndash 11-13 Sep ndash is our inaugural iMotorhome get together at the Joadja Creek heritage site As

expected wersquove had a few people fall away due to family andor health issues The good news is therersquos still time to book a spot and come meet the iMotorhome team fellow motorhome owners and enjoy the tours food and fun wersquove got lined up

Our special guest is 4WD and motoring journalism guru Allan Whiting from

outbacktravelaustraliacomau who will ensure we have a roaring camp fire each night and be happy to answer your Outback and remote area travel technical or general motoring questions over a beer or two Yoursquoll need to book and pay quickly so see the ad on page 13 for full details ndash and all the terrific inclusions ndash and grab your spot now Tomorrow might be too latehellip

Clarinda Hoiberg joined the iMotorhome team this week and takes over the role of advertising sales contact vacated

by Keith Smyth following his retirement at the

end of June With a strong background in marketing as well as sales Clarinda moves into a new role and becomes our Business Development Manager Skill sets aside she also brings new ideas new perspectives and new enthusiasm to the business Although Clarinda has no direct experience in the RV market she does has a peripheral association with it and will no doubt quickly get to grips with things Brisbane-based shersquoll become a familiar voice to all iMotorhome advertisers ndash and prospects ndash so please join us in welcoming her to the team

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

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quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

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1

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The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

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wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

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shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

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FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

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26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

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Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 2: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Designed and built with travelling and the great outdoors in mind The storage space yoursquoll find in each Horizon

motorhome is surprising

To find out more about the range visit horizonmotorhomescomau SOLD

EXCLUSIVELY BY

BALLINA CAMPERVAN amp MOTO

RHOME CENTRE

299 River S

treet B

allina NSW

2478

02 6681 15

55 | b

cmcc

omau

SGG Pty Ltd Lic No MD11739 MVRL23910

A Home for

Our innovative design team have used 20 years of experience to utilise every inch of available space allowing you to take almost everything you could possibly want on your travels With a mass of drawers overhead

cupboards shelving wardrobes and large boot space you have room for everything including the kitchen sink Thatrsquos why satisfaction really is built into each and every Horizon Motorhome

Everything

To find out more about our range of lsquobuilt to perfectionrsquo motorhomes visit horizonmotorhomescomau or call our exclusive dealer BCMC on 02 6681 1555

horizonmotorhomescomau

iMotorhome eMagazine is published twice monthly and available by free subscription from wwwimotorhomecomau

Your letters and contributions are always welcome

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Published by iMotorhomePO Box 1738 Bowral NSW 2576 Australia

ABN 34 142 547 719

T +614 14 604 368

E infoimotorhomecomau

W wwwimotorhomecomau

EditorialPublisherManaging Editor

Richard Robertson

T 0414 604 368

E richardimotorhomecomau

Roadtest Editor

Malcolm Street

E malcolmimotorhomecomau

Contributors

Jess Ciampa Emily Barker and Allan Whiting

Design and ProductionDesign amp Production Manager

Agnes Nielsen

E agnesimotorhomecomau

Advertising Sales amp MarketingBusiness Development Manager

Clarinda Hoiberg

E clarindaimotorhomecomau

LegalAll content of iMotorhome eMagazine and website is copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content however no responsibility is accepted for any inconvenience andor loss arising from reading andor acting upon information contained within iMotorhome eMagazine or the iMotorhome website

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

About iMotorhome | 3

Designed and built with travelling and the great outdoors in mind The storage space yoursquoll find in each Horizon

motorhome is surprising

To find out more about the range visit horizonmotorhomescomau SOLD

EXCLUSIVELY BY

BALLINA CAMPERVAN amp MOTO

RHOME CENTRE

299 River S

treet B

allina NSW

2478

02 6681 15

55 | b

cmcc

omau

SGG Pty Ltd Lic No MD11739 MVRL23910

A Home for

Our innovative design team have used 20 years of experience to utilise every inch of available space allowing you to take almost everything you could possibly want on your travels With a mass of drawers overhead

cupboards shelving wardrobes and large boot space you have room for everything including the kitchen sink Thatrsquos why satisfaction really is built into each and every Horizon Motorhome

Everything

To find out more about our range of lsquobuilt to perfectionrsquo motorhomes visit horizonmotorhomescomau or call our exclusive dealer BCMC on 02 6681 1555

horizonmotorhomescomau

The Most Recognised Name in Motorhomesreg

2015 motorhome range now available nationwide

Proudly Australian designed and built in our Brisbane factory

Accept no imitations

Find a Winnebago dealership near you Visit

wwwgowinnebagocomau

Licensee and authorised distributor of Winnebago Industries Inc Forest City Iowa USA

AUSTRALIA amp NEW ZEALAND

2014_iMotorhome_AprilMayJune_FullPage_240315indd 1 21042015 21454 PM

Forty years ago tonight (if yoursquore reading this on publication day) I was lying in Sydneyrsquos St George Hospital following a motorcycle accident that could easily have claimed my life I was 17 years old

In my memory the events of that day and evening are something of a blur I was working as a motorcycle courier for a city-based delivery company and had been on the road for about 10 hours It had rained most of the day and I was cold wet despite my wet weather gear and couldnrsquot wait to get home Normally I only worked the CBD and inner suburbs finishing around 530 pm But on that Friday night a van had broken down somewhere in the Inner West and I was asked to collect a package from it and deliver it out Paramatta way Saying yes when all I wanted to do was go home proved a fateful decision Having delivered the parcel I headed home but when only 15 minutes away fatigue and youthful misjudgement combined and I ran an orange light colliding with a turning Hillman

When I left hospital ten and a half weeks later ndash eight weeks in traction with a broken pelvis and two and a half weeks learning to walk again ndash my world was a different place Still I went back to the job that nearly killed me before deciding to buy a ute and hopefully make 21

In hindsight the accident was the biggest pivotal moment in my life and I can trace who I am and where I am today directly from it Who I am is the result of cheating death but becoming acutely aware of my mortality ndash something that has never left me ndash and where I am is a result of the compensation I received a few years later

My father was a self-made man and when the money came though had a business opportunity for me in Melbourne Jumping at the chance to do

something new I moved south but within a year sold the business and took up a job as a tour guide on Outback coach camping tours That began my journey through the travel industry which lead to travel writing motoring journalism and now iMotorhome 40 years later

Irsquove often wondered where Irsquod be if not for that accident Occasionally I drive thorough the intersection where that poor Hillman met its end ndash ironically just down the road from Malcolm ndash but therersquos no emotion as I have no recollection except for a fleeting moment in the ambulance and some of the time in Casualty Our lives can turn in an instant and I think it was General MacArthur who said something loosely along the lines of ldquoIn war life and death turn on the blink of an eyerdquo So can it at any time as Irsquove discovered

Anniversary aside Irsquom sharing this to encourage anyone who has come through a traumatic experience not to dwell too much on it Embrace life and look for new opportunities I realise that can be easier said than done but unlike four decades ago there are support groups and services available that can make a real difference Newton said an object in a uniform state of motion will remain that way unless acted upon by an external force My life changed completely after that accident If yoursquove experienced a major event and your world and options are different now donrsquot be afraid to embrace them Itrsquos remarkable what good can come from a seemingly bad experience

HAPPy AnnivErSAry

On my mind | 5

Richard

6 | Content

3 About UsWho we are where and other legal stuff

62 Mobile Tech BeachsafeSurf Life Saving Australiarsquos app to keep you safe on our beaches

66 Next IssueWhatrsquos coming up and which shows are on soon

9 ResourcesFind back issues and more on our website

24 MarketplaceThe latest Marketplace offers

5 On my MindHappy Anniversary

14 NewsWhatrsquos happening in the wider RV world - and beyond

28 Touring Test Trakka Torino XtraMalcolm hops down to the snow for a short break away

26 Freedom CampingOur regular roundup of whatrsquos happening in the world of free campinghellip

42 Project PollyUnlocking her dirty little secrets as we get down to businesshellip

58 Travel PostcardsA snapshot of the unusual from Malcolmrsquos holiday adventure

11 On your MindShare your thoughts for the chance to win $50

65 Advertisers IndexAn A to Z of whorsquos in this issue

52 Feature SurvivorA life taken low is redeemed ndash with the help of a motorhome

Caravan_MOT_3Models_AVIDAindd 1 250415 744 PM

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

iMotorhome

reso

urce

s

because getting there is half the fun

Ask a Question

Back Issues

Road Tests

SubscriptionMarketplace

Reader Survey

Reader Review

User Guide

Magazine Resources

Review and images by Malcolm Street

Dethleffs lsquobabyrsquo A-class is something to ogle athellip

Esprit de Cor Blimey

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

resources | 9

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

Hi just reading the latest edition great job Just a suggestion in relation to the mattress issues in your van we found our mattress lacking on long term trips We looked at a few options including a latex and slat under-system but at over $1000 it was way too much Instead we solved the problem for $18 by buying two packs of the clip together foam squares used as exercise mats (try Repco or Bunnings) We use it as underlay and it only raised the mattress by 25 mm The high density foam has the added bonus of providing great heat insulation as well as supporting the existing mattress We used the squares that had 25 mm holes in them to allow the mattress to

breathe ndash well thats my theory at least It might work for you and you could add more layers cheaply if you want a softer feel

Cheers David

Cheers indeed David as yoursquoll read in this issuersquos Project Polly update Wersquove taken your advice although for a couple of reasons we bought carpet-backed mats Havenrsquot tried them yet but I think theyrsquoll be an affordable step in the right direction Please accept this issue $50 prize for your suggestion which will at least pay for your mats ndash with coffee money left over

Itrsquos only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind you should be able to have yours too If you have anything to say ndash or ask ndash just drop a line to lettersimotorhomecomau and wersquoll share it with our readers Wersquoll also reward

the most interesting useful or thoughtful letter each issue with $50 to help you on your way

Mattress of Fact

Win $50 for the best letterOn your mind | 11

Macksville Mystery

Fiamma Issues

12 | On your mind

Re RV Friendly Macksville went there yesterday to check out the Lions Park where you stayed The area is marked No overnight Camping but you were not seeing things There is a sign on the southern entry to town proclaiming it RV Friendly It is marked as a CMCA sign that doesnt quite fit in with the contrary signs in the parking areaThere were three motorhomes there yesterday afternoon at four orsquoclock so perhaps they donrsquot enforce the rule I for one will stay there on the way back from Brisbane in about a month As they say you should rest every two hours and once settled in will not move unless directed to by the police

Cheers Adrian

Thanks Adrian Irsquove since learned that Macksville had its RV Friendly status revoked a couple of years back something to do with dump point location and parking proximity to the town centre I believe Anyway the sign is still there (although we couldnrsquot find it again when we went looking but Irsquom blaming fatigue) and I think yoursquore right in spirit at least Macksville is RV Friendly ndash even if the parking sign isnrsquot

Dear Sirs first of all my congratulations for such an interesting magazine I have been sifting through all 2015 and 2014 issues on your free PDF archive these last two days I noted that when there is an issue with Dometic you get in touch with their service department It would be nice if you could also forward any issues to me We have two valuable importers in Australia ndash Coast-to-Coast and Camec ndash but issues so strong to warrant a readerrsquos letter are coming back to us anyway

Thanks again John-David Pozzi Managing Director Fiamma SpA Italy

Thank you John-David for your kind words Rest assured if we hear of any further Fiamma product issues wersquoll be certain to share them with you

The inaugural iMotorhome get-together is being held at of one of Australiarsquos most interesting historical sites ndash Joadja Creek Set deep in a valley on the western fringe of the Southern Highlands of NSW this tranquil and picturesque location was once a thriving industrial centre and township complete with its own railway

Come and meet the iMotorhome team enjoy a guided site tour a tour of the recently completed Joadja Whisky Distillery and delight in an authentic Spanish tapas dinner followed by a few drinks by the camp fire

Wersquove booked out the valley for the weekend but space limited to about 20 motorhomes so book early and secure your spot

Date 11-13 September 2015

Location Joadja Creek Heritage Site NSW

Cost $59 per person

Whatrsquos Includedbull Entry fee

bull 2-nights non-powered camping (FriSat) with basic facilities available

bull Guided historic site tour by the owner

bull Tour of Joadja Whisky Distillery

bull Spanish tapas dinner on Saturday night

ExtrasExtra night (Sun) $6 per person

Beer with dinner $5 each

Wine with dinner $6 glass

Bookings

Email infoimotorhomecomau with your name and contact details and wersquoll put you on the list Payment via EFT required to confirm booking Space is limited so contact us today

Wersquove Booked Out The Valley

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

1 Due to licensing restrictions BYO is not available with the Saturday night dinner but okay at other times (like around the camp fire)

2 Access is via several kilometres of dirt road The final 2 km can be tricky after heavy rain and we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the event due to weather conditions In either case a full refund would be offered

3 Access isnrsquot recommended for coach-sized motorhomes but anything up to about 9 m will be fine

Fine Print (please read)

Click for Google Maps

now includes

Friday night

sausage sizzle

14 | news

LAST CHANCEhellip

WELCOME ABOARD

Next weekend ndash 11-13 Sep ndash is our inaugural iMotorhome get together at the Joadja Creek heritage site As

expected wersquove had a few people fall away due to family andor health issues The good news is therersquos still time to book a spot and come meet the iMotorhome team fellow motorhome owners and enjoy the tours food and fun wersquove got lined up

Our special guest is 4WD and motoring journalism guru Allan Whiting from

outbacktravelaustraliacomau who will ensure we have a roaring camp fire each night and be happy to answer your Outback and remote area travel technical or general motoring questions over a beer or two Yoursquoll need to book and pay quickly so see the ad on page 13 for full details ndash and all the terrific inclusions ndash and grab your spot now Tomorrow might be too latehellip

Clarinda Hoiberg joined the iMotorhome team this week and takes over the role of advertising sales contact vacated

by Keith Smyth following his retirement at the

end of June With a strong background in marketing as well as sales Clarinda moves into a new role and becomes our Business Development Manager Skill sets aside she also brings new ideas new perspectives and new enthusiasm to the business Although Clarinda has no direct experience in the RV market she does has a peripheral association with it and will no doubt quickly get to grips with things Brisbane-based shersquoll become a familiar voice to all iMotorhome advertisers ndash and prospects ndash so please join us in welcoming her to the team

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 3: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

iMotorhome eMagazine is published twice monthly and available by free subscription from wwwimotorhomecomau

Your letters and contributions are always welcome

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Published by iMotorhomePO Box 1738 Bowral NSW 2576 Australia

ABN 34 142 547 719

T +614 14 604 368

E infoimotorhomecomau

W wwwimotorhomecomau

EditorialPublisherManaging Editor

Richard Robertson

T 0414 604 368

E richardimotorhomecomau

Roadtest Editor

Malcolm Street

E malcolmimotorhomecomau

Contributors

Jess Ciampa Emily Barker and Allan Whiting

Design and ProductionDesign amp Production Manager

Agnes Nielsen

E agnesimotorhomecomau

Advertising Sales amp MarketingBusiness Development Manager

Clarinda Hoiberg

E clarindaimotorhomecomau

LegalAll content of iMotorhome eMagazine and website is copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content however no responsibility is accepted for any inconvenience andor loss arising from reading andor acting upon information contained within iMotorhome eMagazine or the iMotorhome website

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

About iMotorhome | 3

Designed and built with travelling and the great outdoors in mind The storage space yoursquoll find in each Horizon

motorhome is surprising

To find out more about the range visit horizonmotorhomescomau SOLD

EXCLUSIVELY BY

BALLINA CAMPERVAN amp MOTO

RHOME CENTRE

299 River S

treet B

allina NSW

2478

02 6681 15

55 | b

cmcc

omau

SGG Pty Ltd Lic No MD11739 MVRL23910

A Home for

Our innovative design team have used 20 years of experience to utilise every inch of available space allowing you to take almost everything you could possibly want on your travels With a mass of drawers overhead

cupboards shelving wardrobes and large boot space you have room for everything including the kitchen sink Thatrsquos why satisfaction really is built into each and every Horizon Motorhome

Everything

To find out more about our range of lsquobuilt to perfectionrsquo motorhomes visit horizonmotorhomescomau or call our exclusive dealer BCMC on 02 6681 1555

horizonmotorhomescomau

The Most Recognised Name in Motorhomesreg

2015 motorhome range now available nationwide

Proudly Australian designed and built in our Brisbane factory

Accept no imitations

Find a Winnebago dealership near you Visit

wwwgowinnebagocomau

Licensee and authorised distributor of Winnebago Industries Inc Forest City Iowa USA

AUSTRALIA amp NEW ZEALAND

2014_iMotorhome_AprilMayJune_FullPage_240315indd 1 21042015 21454 PM

Forty years ago tonight (if yoursquore reading this on publication day) I was lying in Sydneyrsquos St George Hospital following a motorcycle accident that could easily have claimed my life I was 17 years old

In my memory the events of that day and evening are something of a blur I was working as a motorcycle courier for a city-based delivery company and had been on the road for about 10 hours It had rained most of the day and I was cold wet despite my wet weather gear and couldnrsquot wait to get home Normally I only worked the CBD and inner suburbs finishing around 530 pm But on that Friday night a van had broken down somewhere in the Inner West and I was asked to collect a package from it and deliver it out Paramatta way Saying yes when all I wanted to do was go home proved a fateful decision Having delivered the parcel I headed home but when only 15 minutes away fatigue and youthful misjudgement combined and I ran an orange light colliding with a turning Hillman

When I left hospital ten and a half weeks later ndash eight weeks in traction with a broken pelvis and two and a half weeks learning to walk again ndash my world was a different place Still I went back to the job that nearly killed me before deciding to buy a ute and hopefully make 21

In hindsight the accident was the biggest pivotal moment in my life and I can trace who I am and where I am today directly from it Who I am is the result of cheating death but becoming acutely aware of my mortality ndash something that has never left me ndash and where I am is a result of the compensation I received a few years later

My father was a self-made man and when the money came though had a business opportunity for me in Melbourne Jumping at the chance to do

something new I moved south but within a year sold the business and took up a job as a tour guide on Outback coach camping tours That began my journey through the travel industry which lead to travel writing motoring journalism and now iMotorhome 40 years later

Irsquove often wondered where Irsquod be if not for that accident Occasionally I drive thorough the intersection where that poor Hillman met its end ndash ironically just down the road from Malcolm ndash but therersquos no emotion as I have no recollection except for a fleeting moment in the ambulance and some of the time in Casualty Our lives can turn in an instant and I think it was General MacArthur who said something loosely along the lines of ldquoIn war life and death turn on the blink of an eyerdquo So can it at any time as Irsquove discovered

Anniversary aside Irsquom sharing this to encourage anyone who has come through a traumatic experience not to dwell too much on it Embrace life and look for new opportunities I realise that can be easier said than done but unlike four decades ago there are support groups and services available that can make a real difference Newton said an object in a uniform state of motion will remain that way unless acted upon by an external force My life changed completely after that accident If yoursquove experienced a major event and your world and options are different now donrsquot be afraid to embrace them Itrsquos remarkable what good can come from a seemingly bad experience

HAPPy AnnivErSAry

On my mind | 5

Richard

6 | Content

3 About UsWho we are where and other legal stuff

62 Mobile Tech BeachsafeSurf Life Saving Australiarsquos app to keep you safe on our beaches

66 Next IssueWhatrsquos coming up and which shows are on soon

9 ResourcesFind back issues and more on our website

24 MarketplaceThe latest Marketplace offers

5 On my MindHappy Anniversary

14 NewsWhatrsquos happening in the wider RV world - and beyond

28 Touring Test Trakka Torino XtraMalcolm hops down to the snow for a short break away

26 Freedom CampingOur regular roundup of whatrsquos happening in the world of free campinghellip

42 Project PollyUnlocking her dirty little secrets as we get down to businesshellip

58 Travel PostcardsA snapshot of the unusual from Malcolmrsquos holiday adventure

11 On your MindShare your thoughts for the chance to win $50

65 Advertisers IndexAn A to Z of whorsquos in this issue

52 Feature SurvivorA life taken low is redeemed ndash with the help of a motorhome

Caravan_MOT_3Models_AVIDAindd 1 250415 744 PM

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

iMotorhome

reso

urce

s

because getting there is half the fun

Ask a Question

Back Issues

Road Tests

SubscriptionMarketplace

Reader Survey

Reader Review

User Guide

Magazine Resources

Review and images by Malcolm Street

Dethleffs lsquobabyrsquo A-class is something to ogle athellip

Esprit de Cor Blimey

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

resources | 9

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

Hi just reading the latest edition great job Just a suggestion in relation to the mattress issues in your van we found our mattress lacking on long term trips We looked at a few options including a latex and slat under-system but at over $1000 it was way too much Instead we solved the problem for $18 by buying two packs of the clip together foam squares used as exercise mats (try Repco or Bunnings) We use it as underlay and it only raised the mattress by 25 mm The high density foam has the added bonus of providing great heat insulation as well as supporting the existing mattress We used the squares that had 25 mm holes in them to allow the mattress to

breathe ndash well thats my theory at least It might work for you and you could add more layers cheaply if you want a softer feel

Cheers David

Cheers indeed David as yoursquoll read in this issuersquos Project Polly update Wersquove taken your advice although for a couple of reasons we bought carpet-backed mats Havenrsquot tried them yet but I think theyrsquoll be an affordable step in the right direction Please accept this issue $50 prize for your suggestion which will at least pay for your mats ndash with coffee money left over

Itrsquos only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind you should be able to have yours too If you have anything to say ndash or ask ndash just drop a line to lettersimotorhomecomau and wersquoll share it with our readers Wersquoll also reward

the most interesting useful or thoughtful letter each issue with $50 to help you on your way

Mattress of Fact

Win $50 for the best letterOn your mind | 11

Macksville Mystery

Fiamma Issues

12 | On your mind

Re RV Friendly Macksville went there yesterday to check out the Lions Park where you stayed The area is marked No overnight Camping but you were not seeing things There is a sign on the southern entry to town proclaiming it RV Friendly It is marked as a CMCA sign that doesnt quite fit in with the contrary signs in the parking areaThere were three motorhomes there yesterday afternoon at four orsquoclock so perhaps they donrsquot enforce the rule I for one will stay there on the way back from Brisbane in about a month As they say you should rest every two hours and once settled in will not move unless directed to by the police

Cheers Adrian

Thanks Adrian Irsquove since learned that Macksville had its RV Friendly status revoked a couple of years back something to do with dump point location and parking proximity to the town centre I believe Anyway the sign is still there (although we couldnrsquot find it again when we went looking but Irsquom blaming fatigue) and I think yoursquore right in spirit at least Macksville is RV Friendly ndash even if the parking sign isnrsquot

Dear Sirs first of all my congratulations for such an interesting magazine I have been sifting through all 2015 and 2014 issues on your free PDF archive these last two days I noted that when there is an issue with Dometic you get in touch with their service department It would be nice if you could also forward any issues to me We have two valuable importers in Australia ndash Coast-to-Coast and Camec ndash but issues so strong to warrant a readerrsquos letter are coming back to us anyway

Thanks again John-David Pozzi Managing Director Fiamma SpA Italy

Thank you John-David for your kind words Rest assured if we hear of any further Fiamma product issues wersquoll be certain to share them with you

The inaugural iMotorhome get-together is being held at of one of Australiarsquos most interesting historical sites ndash Joadja Creek Set deep in a valley on the western fringe of the Southern Highlands of NSW this tranquil and picturesque location was once a thriving industrial centre and township complete with its own railway

Come and meet the iMotorhome team enjoy a guided site tour a tour of the recently completed Joadja Whisky Distillery and delight in an authentic Spanish tapas dinner followed by a few drinks by the camp fire

Wersquove booked out the valley for the weekend but space limited to about 20 motorhomes so book early and secure your spot

Date 11-13 September 2015

Location Joadja Creek Heritage Site NSW

Cost $59 per person

Whatrsquos Includedbull Entry fee

bull 2-nights non-powered camping (FriSat) with basic facilities available

bull Guided historic site tour by the owner

bull Tour of Joadja Whisky Distillery

bull Spanish tapas dinner on Saturday night

ExtrasExtra night (Sun) $6 per person

Beer with dinner $5 each

Wine with dinner $6 glass

Bookings

Email infoimotorhomecomau with your name and contact details and wersquoll put you on the list Payment via EFT required to confirm booking Space is limited so contact us today

Wersquove Booked Out The Valley

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

1 Due to licensing restrictions BYO is not available with the Saturday night dinner but okay at other times (like around the camp fire)

2 Access is via several kilometres of dirt road The final 2 km can be tricky after heavy rain and we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the event due to weather conditions In either case a full refund would be offered

3 Access isnrsquot recommended for coach-sized motorhomes but anything up to about 9 m will be fine

Fine Print (please read)

Click for Google Maps

now includes

Friday night

sausage sizzle

14 | news

LAST CHANCEhellip

WELCOME ABOARD

Next weekend ndash 11-13 Sep ndash is our inaugural iMotorhome get together at the Joadja Creek heritage site As

expected wersquove had a few people fall away due to family andor health issues The good news is therersquos still time to book a spot and come meet the iMotorhome team fellow motorhome owners and enjoy the tours food and fun wersquove got lined up

Our special guest is 4WD and motoring journalism guru Allan Whiting from

outbacktravelaustraliacomau who will ensure we have a roaring camp fire each night and be happy to answer your Outback and remote area travel technical or general motoring questions over a beer or two Yoursquoll need to book and pay quickly so see the ad on page 13 for full details ndash and all the terrific inclusions ndash and grab your spot now Tomorrow might be too latehellip

Clarinda Hoiberg joined the iMotorhome team this week and takes over the role of advertising sales contact vacated

by Keith Smyth following his retirement at the

end of June With a strong background in marketing as well as sales Clarinda moves into a new role and becomes our Business Development Manager Skill sets aside she also brings new ideas new perspectives and new enthusiasm to the business Although Clarinda has no direct experience in the RV market she does has a peripheral association with it and will no doubt quickly get to grips with things Brisbane-based shersquoll become a familiar voice to all iMotorhome advertisers ndash and prospects ndash so please join us in welcoming her to the team

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 4: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

The Most Recognised Name in Motorhomesreg

2015 motorhome range now available nationwide

Proudly Australian designed and built in our Brisbane factory

Accept no imitations

Find a Winnebago dealership near you Visit

wwwgowinnebagocomau

Licensee and authorised distributor of Winnebago Industries Inc Forest City Iowa USA

AUSTRALIA amp NEW ZEALAND

2014_iMotorhome_AprilMayJune_FullPage_240315indd 1 21042015 21454 PM

Forty years ago tonight (if yoursquore reading this on publication day) I was lying in Sydneyrsquos St George Hospital following a motorcycle accident that could easily have claimed my life I was 17 years old

In my memory the events of that day and evening are something of a blur I was working as a motorcycle courier for a city-based delivery company and had been on the road for about 10 hours It had rained most of the day and I was cold wet despite my wet weather gear and couldnrsquot wait to get home Normally I only worked the CBD and inner suburbs finishing around 530 pm But on that Friday night a van had broken down somewhere in the Inner West and I was asked to collect a package from it and deliver it out Paramatta way Saying yes when all I wanted to do was go home proved a fateful decision Having delivered the parcel I headed home but when only 15 minutes away fatigue and youthful misjudgement combined and I ran an orange light colliding with a turning Hillman

When I left hospital ten and a half weeks later ndash eight weeks in traction with a broken pelvis and two and a half weeks learning to walk again ndash my world was a different place Still I went back to the job that nearly killed me before deciding to buy a ute and hopefully make 21

In hindsight the accident was the biggest pivotal moment in my life and I can trace who I am and where I am today directly from it Who I am is the result of cheating death but becoming acutely aware of my mortality ndash something that has never left me ndash and where I am is a result of the compensation I received a few years later

My father was a self-made man and when the money came though had a business opportunity for me in Melbourne Jumping at the chance to do

something new I moved south but within a year sold the business and took up a job as a tour guide on Outback coach camping tours That began my journey through the travel industry which lead to travel writing motoring journalism and now iMotorhome 40 years later

Irsquove often wondered where Irsquod be if not for that accident Occasionally I drive thorough the intersection where that poor Hillman met its end ndash ironically just down the road from Malcolm ndash but therersquos no emotion as I have no recollection except for a fleeting moment in the ambulance and some of the time in Casualty Our lives can turn in an instant and I think it was General MacArthur who said something loosely along the lines of ldquoIn war life and death turn on the blink of an eyerdquo So can it at any time as Irsquove discovered

Anniversary aside Irsquom sharing this to encourage anyone who has come through a traumatic experience not to dwell too much on it Embrace life and look for new opportunities I realise that can be easier said than done but unlike four decades ago there are support groups and services available that can make a real difference Newton said an object in a uniform state of motion will remain that way unless acted upon by an external force My life changed completely after that accident If yoursquove experienced a major event and your world and options are different now donrsquot be afraid to embrace them Itrsquos remarkable what good can come from a seemingly bad experience

HAPPy AnnivErSAry

On my mind | 5

Richard

6 | Content

3 About UsWho we are where and other legal stuff

62 Mobile Tech BeachsafeSurf Life Saving Australiarsquos app to keep you safe on our beaches

66 Next IssueWhatrsquos coming up and which shows are on soon

9 ResourcesFind back issues and more on our website

24 MarketplaceThe latest Marketplace offers

5 On my MindHappy Anniversary

14 NewsWhatrsquos happening in the wider RV world - and beyond

28 Touring Test Trakka Torino XtraMalcolm hops down to the snow for a short break away

26 Freedom CampingOur regular roundup of whatrsquos happening in the world of free campinghellip

42 Project PollyUnlocking her dirty little secrets as we get down to businesshellip

58 Travel PostcardsA snapshot of the unusual from Malcolmrsquos holiday adventure

11 On your MindShare your thoughts for the chance to win $50

65 Advertisers IndexAn A to Z of whorsquos in this issue

52 Feature SurvivorA life taken low is redeemed ndash with the help of a motorhome

Caravan_MOT_3Models_AVIDAindd 1 250415 744 PM

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

iMotorhome

reso

urce

s

because getting there is half the fun

Ask a Question

Back Issues

Road Tests

SubscriptionMarketplace

Reader Survey

Reader Review

User Guide

Magazine Resources

Review and images by Malcolm Street

Dethleffs lsquobabyrsquo A-class is something to ogle athellip

Esprit de Cor Blimey

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

resources | 9

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

Hi just reading the latest edition great job Just a suggestion in relation to the mattress issues in your van we found our mattress lacking on long term trips We looked at a few options including a latex and slat under-system but at over $1000 it was way too much Instead we solved the problem for $18 by buying two packs of the clip together foam squares used as exercise mats (try Repco or Bunnings) We use it as underlay and it only raised the mattress by 25 mm The high density foam has the added bonus of providing great heat insulation as well as supporting the existing mattress We used the squares that had 25 mm holes in them to allow the mattress to

breathe ndash well thats my theory at least It might work for you and you could add more layers cheaply if you want a softer feel

Cheers David

Cheers indeed David as yoursquoll read in this issuersquos Project Polly update Wersquove taken your advice although for a couple of reasons we bought carpet-backed mats Havenrsquot tried them yet but I think theyrsquoll be an affordable step in the right direction Please accept this issue $50 prize for your suggestion which will at least pay for your mats ndash with coffee money left over

Itrsquos only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind you should be able to have yours too If you have anything to say ndash or ask ndash just drop a line to lettersimotorhomecomau and wersquoll share it with our readers Wersquoll also reward

the most interesting useful or thoughtful letter each issue with $50 to help you on your way

Mattress of Fact

Win $50 for the best letterOn your mind | 11

Macksville Mystery

Fiamma Issues

12 | On your mind

Re RV Friendly Macksville went there yesterday to check out the Lions Park where you stayed The area is marked No overnight Camping but you were not seeing things There is a sign on the southern entry to town proclaiming it RV Friendly It is marked as a CMCA sign that doesnt quite fit in with the contrary signs in the parking areaThere were three motorhomes there yesterday afternoon at four orsquoclock so perhaps they donrsquot enforce the rule I for one will stay there on the way back from Brisbane in about a month As they say you should rest every two hours and once settled in will not move unless directed to by the police

Cheers Adrian

Thanks Adrian Irsquove since learned that Macksville had its RV Friendly status revoked a couple of years back something to do with dump point location and parking proximity to the town centre I believe Anyway the sign is still there (although we couldnrsquot find it again when we went looking but Irsquom blaming fatigue) and I think yoursquore right in spirit at least Macksville is RV Friendly ndash even if the parking sign isnrsquot

Dear Sirs first of all my congratulations for such an interesting magazine I have been sifting through all 2015 and 2014 issues on your free PDF archive these last two days I noted that when there is an issue with Dometic you get in touch with their service department It would be nice if you could also forward any issues to me We have two valuable importers in Australia ndash Coast-to-Coast and Camec ndash but issues so strong to warrant a readerrsquos letter are coming back to us anyway

Thanks again John-David Pozzi Managing Director Fiamma SpA Italy

Thank you John-David for your kind words Rest assured if we hear of any further Fiamma product issues wersquoll be certain to share them with you

The inaugural iMotorhome get-together is being held at of one of Australiarsquos most interesting historical sites ndash Joadja Creek Set deep in a valley on the western fringe of the Southern Highlands of NSW this tranquil and picturesque location was once a thriving industrial centre and township complete with its own railway

Come and meet the iMotorhome team enjoy a guided site tour a tour of the recently completed Joadja Whisky Distillery and delight in an authentic Spanish tapas dinner followed by a few drinks by the camp fire

Wersquove booked out the valley for the weekend but space limited to about 20 motorhomes so book early and secure your spot

Date 11-13 September 2015

Location Joadja Creek Heritage Site NSW

Cost $59 per person

Whatrsquos Includedbull Entry fee

bull 2-nights non-powered camping (FriSat) with basic facilities available

bull Guided historic site tour by the owner

bull Tour of Joadja Whisky Distillery

bull Spanish tapas dinner on Saturday night

ExtrasExtra night (Sun) $6 per person

Beer with dinner $5 each

Wine with dinner $6 glass

Bookings

Email infoimotorhomecomau with your name and contact details and wersquoll put you on the list Payment via EFT required to confirm booking Space is limited so contact us today

Wersquove Booked Out The Valley

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

1 Due to licensing restrictions BYO is not available with the Saturday night dinner but okay at other times (like around the camp fire)

2 Access is via several kilometres of dirt road The final 2 km can be tricky after heavy rain and we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the event due to weather conditions In either case a full refund would be offered

3 Access isnrsquot recommended for coach-sized motorhomes but anything up to about 9 m will be fine

Fine Print (please read)

Click for Google Maps

now includes

Friday night

sausage sizzle

14 | news

LAST CHANCEhellip

WELCOME ABOARD

Next weekend ndash 11-13 Sep ndash is our inaugural iMotorhome get together at the Joadja Creek heritage site As

expected wersquove had a few people fall away due to family andor health issues The good news is therersquos still time to book a spot and come meet the iMotorhome team fellow motorhome owners and enjoy the tours food and fun wersquove got lined up

Our special guest is 4WD and motoring journalism guru Allan Whiting from

outbacktravelaustraliacomau who will ensure we have a roaring camp fire each night and be happy to answer your Outback and remote area travel technical or general motoring questions over a beer or two Yoursquoll need to book and pay quickly so see the ad on page 13 for full details ndash and all the terrific inclusions ndash and grab your spot now Tomorrow might be too latehellip

Clarinda Hoiberg joined the iMotorhome team this week and takes over the role of advertising sales contact vacated

by Keith Smyth following his retirement at the

end of June With a strong background in marketing as well as sales Clarinda moves into a new role and becomes our Business Development Manager Skill sets aside she also brings new ideas new perspectives and new enthusiasm to the business Although Clarinda has no direct experience in the RV market she does has a peripheral association with it and will no doubt quickly get to grips with things Brisbane-based shersquoll become a familiar voice to all iMotorhome advertisers ndash and prospects ndash so please join us in welcoming her to the team

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 5: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Forty years ago tonight (if yoursquore reading this on publication day) I was lying in Sydneyrsquos St George Hospital following a motorcycle accident that could easily have claimed my life I was 17 years old

In my memory the events of that day and evening are something of a blur I was working as a motorcycle courier for a city-based delivery company and had been on the road for about 10 hours It had rained most of the day and I was cold wet despite my wet weather gear and couldnrsquot wait to get home Normally I only worked the CBD and inner suburbs finishing around 530 pm But on that Friday night a van had broken down somewhere in the Inner West and I was asked to collect a package from it and deliver it out Paramatta way Saying yes when all I wanted to do was go home proved a fateful decision Having delivered the parcel I headed home but when only 15 minutes away fatigue and youthful misjudgement combined and I ran an orange light colliding with a turning Hillman

When I left hospital ten and a half weeks later ndash eight weeks in traction with a broken pelvis and two and a half weeks learning to walk again ndash my world was a different place Still I went back to the job that nearly killed me before deciding to buy a ute and hopefully make 21

In hindsight the accident was the biggest pivotal moment in my life and I can trace who I am and where I am today directly from it Who I am is the result of cheating death but becoming acutely aware of my mortality ndash something that has never left me ndash and where I am is a result of the compensation I received a few years later

My father was a self-made man and when the money came though had a business opportunity for me in Melbourne Jumping at the chance to do

something new I moved south but within a year sold the business and took up a job as a tour guide on Outback coach camping tours That began my journey through the travel industry which lead to travel writing motoring journalism and now iMotorhome 40 years later

Irsquove often wondered where Irsquod be if not for that accident Occasionally I drive thorough the intersection where that poor Hillman met its end ndash ironically just down the road from Malcolm ndash but therersquos no emotion as I have no recollection except for a fleeting moment in the ambulance and some of the time in Casualty Our lives can turn in an instant and I think it was General MacArthur who said something loosely along the lines of ldquoIn war life and death turn on the blink of an eyerdquo So can it at any time as Irsquove discovered

Anniversary aside Irsquom sharing this to encourage anyone who has come through a traumatic experience not to dwell too much on it Embrace life and look for new opportunities I realise that can be easier said than done but unlike four decades ago there are support groups and services available that can make a real difference Newton said an object in a uniform state of motion will remain that way unless acted upon by an external force My life changed completely after that accident If yoursquove experienced a major event and your world and options are different now donrsquot be afraid to embrace them Itrsquos remarkable what good can come from a seemingly bad experience

HAPPy AnnivErSAry

On my mind | 5

Richard

6 | Content

3 About UsWho we are where and other legal stuff

62 Mobile Tech BeachsafeSurf Life Saving Australiarsquos app to keep you safe on our beaches

66 Next IssueWhatrsquos coming up and which shows are on soon

9 ResourcesFind back issues and more on our website

24 MarketplaceThe latest Marketplace offers

5 On my MindHappy Anniversary

14 NewsWhatrsquos happening in the wider RV world - and beyond

28 Touring Test Trakka Torino XtraMalcolm hops down to the snow for a short break away

26 Freedom CampingOur regular roundup of whatrsquos happening in the world of free campinghellip

42 Project PollyUnlocking her dirty little secrets as we get down to businesshellip

58 Travel PostcardsA snapshot of the unusual from Malcolmrsquos holiday adventure

11 On your MindShare your thoughts for the chance to win $50

65 Advertisers IndexAn A to Z of whorsquos in this issue

52 Feature SurvivorA life taken low is redeemed ndash with the help of a motorhome

Caravan_MOT_3Models_AVIDAindd 1 250415 744 PM

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

iMotorhome

reso

urce

s

because getting there is half the fun

Ask a Question

Back Issues

Road Tests

SubscriptionMarketplace

Reader Survey

Reader Review

User Guide

Magazine Resources

Review and images by Malcolm Street

Dethleffs lsquobabyrsquo A-class is something to ogle athellip

Esprit de Cor Blimey

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

resources | 9

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

Hi just reading the latest edition great job Just a suggestion in relation to the mattress issues in your van we found our mattress lacking on long term trips We looked at a few options including a latex and slat under-system but at over $1000 it was way too much Instead we solved the problem for $18 by buying two packs of the clip together foam squares used as exercise mats (try Repco or Bunnings) We use it as underlay and it only raised the mattress by 25 mm The high density foam has the added bonus of providing great heat insulation as well as supporting the existing mattress We used the squares that had 25 mm holes in them to allow the mattress to

breathe ndash well thats my theory at least It might work for you and you could add more layers cheaply if you want a softer feel

Cheers David

Cheers indeed David as yoursquoll read in this issuersquos Project Polly update Wersquove taken your advice although for a couple of reasons we bought carpet-backed mats Havenrsquot tried them yet but I think theyrsquoll be an affordable step in the right direction Please accept this issue $50 prize for your suggestion which will at least pay for your mats ndash with coffee money left over

Itrsquos only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind you should be able to have yours too If you have anything to say ndash or ask ndash just drop a line to lettersimotorhomecomau and wersquoll share it with our readers Wersquoll also reward

the most interesting useful or thoughtful letter each issue with $50 to help you on your way

Mattress of Fact

Win $50 for the best letterOn your mind | 11

Macksville Mystery

Fiamma Issues

12 | On your mind

Re RV Friendly Macksville went there yesterday to check out the Lions Park where you stayed The area is marked No overnight Camping but you were not seeing things There is a sign on the southern entry to town proclaiming it RV Friendly It is marked as a CMCA sign that doesnt quite fit in with the contrary signs in the parking areaThere were three motorhomes there yesterday afternoon at four orsquoclock so perhaps they donrsquot enforce the rule I for one will stay there on the way back from Brisbane in about a month As they say you should rest every two hours and once settled in will not move unless directed to by the police

Cheers Adrian

Thanks Adrian Irsquove since learned that Macksville had its RV Friendly status revoked a couple of years back something to do with dump point location and parking proximity to the town centre I believe Anyway the sign is still there (although we couldnrsquot find it again when we went looking but Irsquom blaming fatigue) and I think yoursquore right in spirit at least Macksville is RV Friendly ndash even if the parking sign isnrsquot

Dear Sirs first of all my congratulations for such an interesting magazine I have been sifting through all 2015 and 2014 issues on your free PDF archive these last two days I noted that when there is an issue with Dometic you get in touch with their service department It would be nice if you could also forward any issues to me We have two valuable importers in Australia ndash Coast-to-Coast and Camec ndash but issues so strong to warrant a readerrsquos letter are coming back to us anyway

Thanks again John-David Pozzi Managing Director Fiamma SpA Italy

Thank you John-David for your kind words Rest assured if we hear of any further Fiamma product issues wersquoll be certain to share them with you

The inaugural iMotorhome get-together is being held at of one of Australiarsquos most interesting historical sites ndash Joadja Creek Set deep in a valley on the western fringe of the Southern Highlands of NSW this tranquil and picturesque location was once a thriving industrial centre and township complete with its own railway

Come and meet the iMotorhome team enjoy a guided site tour a tour of the recently completed Joadja Whisky Distillery and delight in an authentic Spanish tapas dinner followed by a few drinks by the camp fire

Wersquove booked out the valley for the weekend but space limited to about 20 motorhomes so book early and secure your spot

Date 11-13 September 2015

Location Joadja Creek Heritage Site NSW

Cost $59 per person

Whatrsquos Includedbull Entry fee

bull 2-nights non-powered camping (FriSat) with basic facilities available

bull Guided historic site tour by the owner

bull Tour of Joadja Whisky Distillery

bull Spanish tapas dinner on Saturday night

ExtrasExtra night (Sun) $6 per person

Beer with dinner $5 each

Wine with dinner $6 glass

Bookings

Email infoimotorhomecomau with your name and contact details and wersquoll put you on the list Payment via EFT required to confirm booking Space is limited so contact us today

Wersquove Booked Out The Valley

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

1 Due to licensing restrictions BYO is not available with the Saturday night dinner but okay at other times (like around the camp fire)

2 Access is via several kilometres of dirt road The final 2 km can be tricky after heavy rain and we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the event due to weather conditions In either case a full refund would be offered

3 Access isnrsquot recommended for coach-sized motorhomes but anything up to about 9 m will be fine

Fine Print (please read)

Click for Google Maps

now includes

Friday night

sausage sizzle

14 | news

LAST CHANCEhellip

WELCOME ABOARD

Next weekend ndash 11-13 Sep ndash is our inaugural iMotorhome get together at the Joadja Creek heritage site As

expected wersquove had a few people fall away due to family andor health issues The good news is therersquos still time to book a spot and come meet the iMotorhome team fellow motorhome owners and enjoy the tours food and fun wersquove got lined up

Our special guest is 4WD and motoring journalism guru Allan Whiting from

outbacktravelaustraliacomau who will ensure we have a roaring camp fire each night and be happy to answer your Outback and remote area travel technical or general motoring questions over a beer or two Yoursquoll need to book and pay quickly so see the ad on page 13 for full details ndash and all the terrific inclusions ndash and grab your spot now Tomorrow might be too latehellip

Clarinda Hoiberg joined the iMotorhome team this week and takes over the role of advertising sales contact vacated

by Keith Smyth following his retirement at the

end of June With a strong background in marketing as well as sales Clarinda moves into a new role and becomes our Business Development Manager Skill sets aside she also brings new ideas new perspectives and new enthusiasm to the business Although Clarinda has no direct experience in the RV market she does has a peripheral association with it and will no doubt quickly get to grips with things Brisbane-based shersquoll become a familiar voice to all iMotorhome advertisers ndash and prospects ndash so please join us in welcoming her to the team

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 6: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

6 | Content

3 About UsWho we are where and other legal stuff

62 Mobile Tech BeachsafeSurf Life Saving Australiarsquos app to keep you safe on our beaches

66 Next IssueWhatrsquos coming up and which shows are on soon

9 ResourcesFind back issues and more on our website

24 MarketplaceThe latest Marketplace offers

5 On my MindHappy Anniversary

14 NewsWhatrsquos happening in the wider RV world - and beyond

28 Touring Test Trakka Torino XtraMalcolm hops down to the snow for a short break away

26 Freedom CampingOur regular roundup of whatrsquos happening in the world of free campinghellip

42 Project PollyUnlocking her dirty little secrets as we get down to businesshellip

58 Travel PostcardsA snapshot of the unusual from Malcolmrsquos holiday adventure

11 On your MindShare your thoughts for the chance to win $50

65 Advertisers IndexAn A to Z of whorsquos in this issue

52 Feature SurvivorA life taken low is redeemed ndash with the help of a motorhome

Caravan_MOT_3Models_AVIDAindd 1 250415 744 PM

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

iMotorhome

reso

urce

s

because getting there is half the fun

Ask a Question

Back Issues

Road Tests

SubscriptionMarketplace

Reader Survey

Reader Review

User Guide

Magazine Resources

Review and images by Malcolm Street

Dethleffs lsquobabyrsquo A-class is something to ogle athellip

Esprit de Cor Blimey

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

resources | 9

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

Hi just reading the latest edition great job Just a suggestion in relation to the mattress issues in your van we found our mattress lacking on long term trips We looked at a few options including a latex and slat under-system but at over $1000 it was way too much Instead we solved the problem for $18 by buying two packs of the clip together foam squares used as exercise mats (try Repco or Bunnings) We use it as underlay and it only raised the mattress by 25 mm The high density foam has the added bonus of providing great heat insulation as well as supporting the existing mattress We used the squares that had 25 mm holes in them to allow the mattress to

breathe ndash well thats my theory at least It might work for you and you could add more layers cheaply if you want a softer feel

Cheers David

Cheers indeed David as yoursquoll read in this issuersquos Project Polly update Wersquove taken your advice although for a couple of reasons we bought carpet-backed mats Havenrsquot tried them yet but I think theyrsquoll be an affordable step in the right direction Please accept this issue $50 prize for your suggestion which will at least pay for your mats ndash with coffee money left over

Itrsquos only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind you should be able to have yours too If you have anything to say ndash or ask ndash just drop a line to lettersimotorhomecomau and wersquoll share it with our readers Wersquoll also reward

the most interesting useful or thoughtful letter each issue with $50 to help you on your way

Mattress of Fact

Win $50 for the best letterOn your mind | 11

Macksville Mystery

Fiamma Issues

12 | On your mind

Re RV Friendly Macksville went there yesterday to check out the Lions Park where you stayed The area is marked No overnight Camping but you were not seeing things There is a sign on the southern entry to town proclaiming it RV Friendly It is marked as a CMCA sign that doesnt quite fit in with the contrary signs in the parking areaThere were three motorhomes there yesterday afternoon at four orsquoclock so perhaps they donrsquot enforce the rule I for one will stay there on the way back from Brisbane in about a month As they say you should rest every two hours and once settled in will not move unless directed to by the police

Cheers Adrian

Thanks Adrian Irsquove since learned that Macksville had its RV Friendly status revoked a couple of years back something to do with dump point location and parking proximity to the town centre I believe Anyway the sign is still there (although we couldnrsquot find it again when we went looking but Irsquom blaming fatigue) and I think yoursquore right in spirit at least Macksville is RV Friendly ndash even if the parking sign isnrsquot

Dear Sirs first of all my congratulations for such an interesting magazine I have been sifting through all 2015 and 2014 issues on your free PDF archive these last two days I noted that when there is an issue with Dometic you get in touch with their service department It would be nice if you could also forward any issues to me We have two valuable importers in Australia ndash Coast-to-Coast and Camec ndash but issues so strong to warrant a readerrsquos letter are coming back to us anyway

Thanks again John-David Pozzi Managing Director Fiamma SpA Italy

Thank you John-David for your kind words Rest assured if we hear of any further Fiamma product issues wersquoll be certain to share them with you

The inaugural iMotorhome get-together is being held at of one of Australiarsquos most interesting historical sites ndash Joadja Creek Set deep in a valley on the western fringe of the Southern Highlands of NSW this tranquil and picturesque location was once a thriving industrial centre and township complete with its own railway

Come and meet the iMotorhome team enjoy a guided site tour a tour of the recently completed Joadja Whisky Distillery and delight in an authentic Spanish tapas dinner followed by a few drinks by the camp fire

Wersquove booked out the valley for the weekend but space limited to about 20 motorhomes so book early and secure your spot

Date 11-13 September 2015

Location Joadja Creek Heritage Site NSW

Cost $59 per person

Whatrsquos Includedbull Entry fee

bull 2-nights non-powered camping (FriSat) with basic facilities available

bull Guided historic site tour by the owner

bull Tour of Joadja Whisky Distillery

bull Spanish tapas dinner on Saturday night

ExtrasExtra night (Sun) $6 per person

Beer with dinner $5 each

Wine with dinner $6 glass

Bookings

Email infoimotorhomecomau with your name and contact details and wersquoll put you on the list Payment via EFT required to confirm booking Space is limited so contact us today

Wersquove Booked Out The Valley

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

1 Due to licensing restrictions BYO is not available with the Saturday night dinner but okay at other times (like around the camp fire)

2 Access is via several kilometres of dirt road The final 2 km can be tricky after heavy rain and we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the event due to weather conditions In either case a full refund would be offered

3 Access isnrsquot recommended for coach-sized motorhomes but anything up to about 9 m will be fine

Fine Print (please read)

Click for Google Maps

now includes

Friday night

sausage sizzle

14 | news

LAST CHANCEhellip

WELCOME ABOARD

Next weekend ndash 11-13 Sep ndash is our inaugural iMotorhome get together at the Joadja Creek heritage site As

expected wersquove had a few people fall away due to family andor health issues The good news is therersquos still time to book a spot and come meet the iMotorhome team fellow motorhome owners and enjoy the tours food and fun wersquove got lined up

Our special guest is 4WD and motoring journalism guru Allan Whiting from

outbacktravelaustraliacomau who will ensure we have a roaring camp fire each night and be happy to answer your Outback and remote area travel technical or general motoring questions over a beer or two Yoursquoll need to book and pay quickly so see the ad on page 13 for full details ndash and all the terrific inclusions ndash and grab your spot now Tomorrow might be too latehellip

Clarinda Hoiberg joined the iMotorhome team this week and takes over the role of advertising sales contact vacated

by Keith Smyth following his retirement at the

end of June With a strong background in marketing as well as sales Clarinda moves into a new role and becomes our Business Development Manager Skill sets aside she also brings new ideas new perspectives and new enthusiasm to the business Although Clarinda has no direct experience in the RV market she does has a peripheral association with it and will no doubt quickly get to grips with things Brisbane-based shersquoll become a familiar voice to all iMotorhome advertisers ndash and prospects ndash so please join us in welcoming her to the team

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

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T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

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iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

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quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

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The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

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Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

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motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

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Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

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Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

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SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

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FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

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26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 7: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Caravan_MOT_3Models_AVIDAindd 1 250415 744 PM

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

iMotorhome

reso

urce

s

because getting there is half the fun

Ask a Question

Back Issues

Road Tests

SubscriptionMarketplace

Reader Survey

Reader Review

User Guide

Magazine Resources

Review and images by Malcolm Street

Dethleffs lsquobabyrsquo A-class is something to ogle athellip

Esprit de Cor Blimey

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

resources | 9

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

Hi just reading the latest edition great job Just a suggestion in relation to the mattress issues in your van we found our mattress lacking on long term trips We looked at a few options including a latex and slat under-system but at over $1000 it was way too much Instead we solved the problem for $18 by buying two packs of the clip together foam squares used as exercise mats (try Repco or Bunnings) We use it as underlay and it only raised the mattress by 25 mm The high density foam has the added bonus of providing great heat insulation as well as supporting the existing mattress We used the squares that had 25 mm holes in them to allow the mattress to

breathe ndash well thats my theory at least It might work for you and you could add more layers cheaply if you want a softer feel

Cheers David

Cheers indeed David as yoursquoll read in this issuersquos Project Polly update Wersquove taken your advice although for a couple of reasons we bought carpet-backed mats Havenrsquot tried them yet but I think theyrsquoll be an affordable step in the right direction Please accept this issue $50 prize for your suggestion which will at least pay for your mats ndash with coffee money left over

Itrsquos only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind you should be able to have yours too If you have anything to say ndash or ask ndash just drop a line to lettersimotorhomecomau and wersquoll share it with our readers Wersquoll also reward

the most interesting useful or thoughtful letter each issue with $50 to help you on your way

Mattress of Fact

Win $50 for the best letterOn your mind | 11

Macksville Mystery

Fiamma Issues

12 | On your mind

Re RV Friendly Macksville went there yesterday to check out the Lions Park where you stayed The area is marked No overnight Camping but you were not seeing things There is a sign on the southern entry to town proclaiming it RV Friendly It is marked as a CMCA sign that doesnt quite fit in with the contrary signs in the parking areaThere were three motorhomes there yesterday afternoon at four orsquoclock so perhaps they donrsquot enforce the rule I for one will stay there on the way back from Brisbane in about a month As they say you should rest every two hours and once settled in will not move unless directed to by the police

Cheers Adrian

Thanks Adrian Irsquove since learned that Macksville had its RV Friendly status revoked a couple of years back something to do with dump point location and parking proximity to the town centre I believe Anyway the sign is still there (although we couldnrsquot find it again when we went looking but Irsquom blaming fatigue) and I think yoursquore right in spirit at least Macksville is RV Friendly ndash even if the parking sign isnrsquot

Dear Sirs first of all my congratulations for such an interesting magazine I have been sifting through all 2015 and 2014 issues on your free PDF archive these last two days I noted that when there is an issue with Dometic you get in touch with their service department It would be nice if you could also forward any issues to me We have two valuable importers in Australia ndash Coast-to-Coast and Camec ndash but issues so strong to warrant a readerrsquos letter are coming back to us anyway

Thanks again John-David Pozzi Managing Director Fiamma SpA Italy

Thank you John-David for your kind words Rest assured if we hear of any further Fiamma product issues wersquoll be certain to share them with you

The inaugural iMotorhome get-together is being held at of one of Australiarsquos most interesting historical sites ndash Joadja Creek Set deep in a valley on the western fringe of the Southern Highlands of NSW this tranquil and picturesque location was once a thriving industrial centre and township complete with its own railway

Come and meet the iMotorhome team enjoy a guided site tour a tour of the recently completed Joadja Whisky Distillery and delight in an authentic Spanish tapas dinner followed by a few drinks by the camp fire

Wersquove booked out the valley for the weekend but space limited to about 20 motorhomes so book early and secure your spot

Date 11-13 September 2015

Location Joadja Creek Heritage Site NSW

Cost $59 per person

Whatrsquos Includedbull Entry fee

bull 2-nights non-powered camping (FriSat) with basic facilities available

bull Guided historic site tour by the owner

bull Tour of Joadja Whisky Distillery

bull Spanish tapas dinner on Saturday night

ExtrasExtra night (Sun) $6 per person

Beer with dinner $5 each

Wine with dinner $6 glass

Bookings

Email infoimotorhomecomau with your name and contact details and wersquoll put you on the list Payment via EFT required to confirm booking Space is limited so contact us today

Wersquove Booked Out The Valley

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

1 Due to licensing restrictions BYO is not available with the Saturday night dinner but okay at other times (like around the camp fire)

2 Access is via several kilometres of dirt road The final 2 km can be tricky after heavy rain and we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the event due to weather conditions In either case a full refund would be offered

3 Access isnrsquot recommended for coach-sized motorhomes but anything up to about 9 m will be fine

Fine Print (please read)

Click for Google Maps

now includes

Friday night

sausage sizzle

14 | news

LAST CHANCEhellip

WELCOME ABOARD

Next weekend ndash 11-13 Sep ndash is our inaugural iMotorhome get together at the Joadja Creek heritage site As

expected wersquove had a few people fall away due to family andor health issues The good news is therersquos still time to book a spot and come meet the iMotorhome team fellow motorhome owners and enjoy the tours food and fun wersquove got lined up

Our special guest is 4WD and motoring journalism guru Allan Whiting from

outbacktravelaustraliacomau who will ensure we have a roaring camp fire each night and be happy to answer your Outback and remote area travel technical or general motoring questions over a beer or two Yoursquoll need to book and pay quickly so see the ad on page 13 for full details ndash and all the terrific inclusions ndash and grab your spot now Tomorrow might be too latehellip

Clarinda Hoiberg joined the iMotorhome team this week and takes over the role of advertising sales contact vacated

by Keith Smyth following his retirement at the

end of June With a strong background in marketing as well as sales Clarinda moves into a new role and becomes our Business Development Manager Skill sets aside she also brings new ideas new perspectives and new enthusiasm to the business Although Clarinda has no direct experience in the RV market she does has a peripheral association with it and will no doubt quickly get to grips with things Brisbane-based shersquoll become a familiar voice to all iMotorhome advertisers ndash and prospects ndash so please join us in welcoming her to the team

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 8: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

iMotorhome

reso

urce

s

because getting there is half the fun

Ask a Question

Back Issues

Road Tests

SubscriptionMarketplace

Reader Survey

Reader Review

User Guide

Magazine Resources

Review and images by Malcolm Street

Dethleffs lsquobabyrsquo A-class is something to ogle athellip

Esprit de Cor Blimey

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

resources | 9

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

Hi just reading the latest edition great job Just a suggestion in relation to the mattress issues in your van we found our mattress lacking on long term trips We looked at a few options including a latex and slat under-system but at over $1000 it was way too much Instead we solved the problem for $18 by buying two packs of the clip together foam squares used as exercise mats (try Repco or Bunnings) We use it as underlay and it only raised the mattress by 25 mm The high density foam has the added bonus of providing great heat insulation as well as supporting the existing mattress We used the squares that had 25 mm holes in them to allow the mattress to

breathe ndash well thats my theory at least It might work for you and you could add more layers cheaply if you want a softer feel

Cheers David

Cheers indeed David as yoursquoll read in this issuersquos Project Polly update Wersquove taken your advice although for a couple of reasons we bought carpet-backed mats Havenrsquot tried them yet but I think theyrsquoll be an affordable step in the right direction Please accept this issue $50 prize for your suggestion which will at least pay for your mats ndash with coffee money left over

Itrsquos only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind you should be able to have yours too If you have anything to say ndash or ask ndash just drop a line to lettersimotorhomecomau and wersquoll share it with our readers Wersquoll also reward

the most interesting useful or thoughtful letter each issue with $50 to help you on your way

Mattress of Fact

Win $50 for the best letterOn your mind | 11

Macksville Mystery

Fiamma Issues

12 | On your mind

Re RV Friendly Macksville went there yesterday to check out the Lions Park where you stayed The area is marked No overnight Camping but you were not seeing things There is a sign on the southern entry to town proclaiming it RV Friendly It is marked as a CMCA sign that doesnt quite fit in with the contrary signs in the parking areaThere were three motorhomes there yesterday afternoon at four orsquoclock so perhaps they donrsquot enforce the rule I for one will stay there on the way back from Brisbane in about a month As they say you should rest every two hours and once settled in will not move unless directed to by the police

Cheers Adrian

Thanks Adrian Irsquove since learned that Macksville had its RV Friendly status revoked a couple of years back something to do with dump point location and parking proximity to the town centre I believe Anyway the sign is still there (although we couldnrsquot find it again when we went looking but Irsquom blaming fatigue) and I think yoursquore right in spirit at least Macksville is RV Friendly ndash even if the parking sign isnrsquot

Dear Sirs first of all my congratulations for such an interesting magazine I have been sifting through all 2015 and 2014 issues on your free PDF archive these last two days I noted that when there is an issue with Dometic you get in touch with their service department It would be nice if you could also forward any issues to me We have two valuable importers in Australia ndash Coast-to-Coast and Camec ndash but issues so strong to warrant a readerrsquos letter are coming back to us anyway

Thanks again John-David Pozzi Managing Director Fiamma SpA Italy

Thank you John-David for your kind words Rest assured if we hear of any further Fiamma product issues wersquoll be certain to share them with you

The inaugural iMotorhome get-together is being held at of one of Australiarsquos most interesting historical sites ndash Joadja Creek Set deep in a valley on the western fringe of the Southern Highlands of NSW this tranquil and picturesque location was once a thriving industrial centre and township complete with its own railway

Come and meet the iMotorhome team enjoy a guided site tour a tour of the recently completed Joadja Whisky Distillery and delight in an authentic Spanish tapas dinner followed by a few drinks by the camp fire

Wersquove booked out the valley for the weekend but space limited to about 20 motorhomes so book early and secure your spot

Date 11-13 September 2015

Location Joadja Creek Heritage Site NSW

Cost $59 per person

Whatrsquos Includedbull Entry fee

bull 2-nights non-powered camping (FriSat) with basic facilities available

bull Guided historic site tour by the owner

bull Tour of Joadja Whisky Distillery

bull Spanish tapas dinner on Saturday night

ExtrasExtra night (Sun) $6 per person

Beer with dinner $5 each

Wine with dinner $6 glass

Bookings

Email infoimotorhomecomau with your name and contact details and wersquoll put you on the list Payment via EFT required to confirm booking Space is limited so contact us today

Wersquove Booked Out The Valley

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

1 Due to licensing restrictions BYO is not available with the Saturday night dinner but okay at other times (like around the camp fire)

2 Access is via several kilometres of dirt road The final 2 km can be tricky after heavy rain and we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the event due to weather conditions In either case a full refund would be offered

3 Access isnrsquot recommended for coach-sized motorhomes but anything up to about 9 m will be fine

Fine Print (please read)

Click for Google Maps

now includes

Friday night

sausage sizzle

14 | news

LAST CHANCEhellip

WELCOME ABOARD

Next weekend ndash 11-13 Sep ndash is our inaugural iMotorhome get together at the Joadja Creek heritage site As

expected wersquove had a few people fall away due to family andor health issues The good news is therersquos still time to book a spot and come meet the iMotorhome team fellow motorhome owners and enjoy the tours food and fun wersquove got lined up

Our special guest is 4WD and motoring journalism guru Allan Whiting from

outbacktravelaustraliacomau who will ensure we have a roaring camp fire each night and be happy to answer your Outback and remote area travel technical or general motoring questions over a beer or two Yoursquoll need to book and pay quickly so see the ad on page 13 for full details ndash and all the terrific inclusions ndash and grab your spot now Tomorrow might be too latehellip

Clarinda Hoiberg joined the iMotorhome team this week and takes over the role of advertising sales contact vacated

by Keith Smyth following his retirement at the

end of June With a strong background in marketing as well as sales Clarinda moves into a new role and becomes our Business Development Manager Skill sets aside she also brings new ideas new perspectives and new enthusiasm to the business Although Clarinda has no direct experience in the RV market she does has a peripheral association with it and will no doubt quickly get to grips with things Brisbane-based shersquoll become a familiar voice to all iMotorhome advertisers ndash and prospects ndash so please join us in welcoming her to the team

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

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26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 9: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

iMotorhome

reso

urce

s

because getting there is half the fun

Ask a Question

Back Issues

Road Tests

SubscriptionMarketplace

Reader Survey

Reader Review

User Guide

Magazine Resources

Review and images by Malcolm Street

Dethleffs lsquobabyrsquo A-class is something to ogle athellip

Esprit de Cor Blimey

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

resources | 9

Paradise Motor Homes wwwparadisemotorhomescomau 245 Brisbane Road Biggera Waters Queensland 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email infoparadisemotorhomescomau Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs patents and copyrights trade copy 2013

Australiarsquos Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australiarsquos best quality motorhome

bull Outstanding value for money competitively priced from $158000

bull Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems

bull Industryrsquos longest amp most comprehensive motorhome warranty

bull Built for Australian conditions

bull Models available with or without slide-outsbull Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior bull Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacitybull Outstanding road handling amp ride comfortbull Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes bull Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet amp shower bull Market leading layouts amp lifestyle featuresbull Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space bull Proven reliability of Paradisersquos patented slide-outs

Relax in Paradise

Hi just reading the latest edition great job Just a suggestion in relation to the mattress issues in your van we found our mattress lacking on long term trips We looked at a few options including a latex and slat under-system but at over $1000 it was way too much Instead we solved the problem for $18 by buying two packs of the clip together foam squares used as exercise mats (try Repco or Bunnings) We use it as underlay and it only raised the mattress by 25 mm The high density foam has the added bonus of providing great heat insulation as well as supporting the existing mattress We used the squares that had 25 mm holes in them to allow the mattress to

breathe ndash well thats my theory at least It might work for you and you could add more layers cheaply if you want a softer feel

Cheers David

Cheers indeed David as yoursquoll read in this issuersquos Project Polly update Wersquove taken your advice although for a couple of reasons we bought carpet-backed mats Havenrsquot tried them yet but I think theyrsquoll be an affordable step in the right direction Please accept this issue $50 prize for your suggestion which will at least pay for your mats ndash with coffee money left over

Itrsquos only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind you should be able to have yours too If you have anything to say ndash or ask ndash just drop a line to lettersimotorhomecomau and wersquoll share it with our readers Wersquoll also reward

the most interesting useful or thoughtful letter each issue with $50 to help you on your way

Mattress of Fact

Win $50 for the best letterOn your mind | 11

Macksville Mystery

Fiamma Issues

12 | On your mind

Re RV Friendly Macksville went there yesterday to check out the Lions Park where you stayed The area is marked No overnight Camping but you were not seeing things There is a sign on the southern entry to town proclaiming it RV Friendly It is marked as a CMCA sign that doesnt quite fit in with the contrary signs in the parking areaThere were three motorhomes there yesterday afternoon at four orsquoclock so perhaps they donrsquot enforce the rule I for one will stay there on the way back from Brisbane in about a month As they say you should rest every two hours and once settled in will not move unless directed to by the police

Cheers Adrian

Thanks Adrian Irsquove since learned that Macksville had its RV Friendly status revoked a couple of years back something to do with dump point location and parking proximity to the town centre I believe Anyway the sign is still there (although we couldnrsquot find it again when we went looking but Irsquom blaming fatigue) and I think yoursquore right in spirit at least Macksville is RV Friendly ndash even if the parking sign isnrsquot

Dear Sirs first of all my congratulations for such an interesting magazine I have been sifting through all 2015 and 2014 issues on your free PDF archive these last two days I noted that when there is an issue with Dometic you get in touch with their service department It would be nice if you could also forward any issues to me We have two valuable importers in Australia ndash Coast-to-Coast and Camec ndash but issues so strong to warrant a readerrsquos letter are coming back to us anyway

Thanks again John-David Pozzi Managing Director Fiamma SpA Italy

Thank you John-David for your kind words Rest assured if we hear of any further Fiamma product issues wersquoll be certain to share them with you

The inaugural iMotorhome get-together is being held at of one of Australiarsquos most interesting historical sites ndash Joadja Creek Set deep in a valley on the western fringe of the Southern Highlands of NSW this tranquil and picturesque location was once a thriving industrial centre and township complete with its own railway

Come and meet the iMotorhome team enjoy a guided site tour a tour of the recently completed Joadja Whisky Distillery and delight in an authentic Spanish tapas dinner followed by a few drinks by the camp fire

Wersquove booked out the valley for the weekend but space limited to about 20 motorhomes so book early and secure your spot

Date 11-13 September 2015

Location Joadja Creek Heritage Site NSW

Cost $59 per person

Whatrsquos Includedbull Entry fee

bull 2-nights non-powered camping (FriSat) with basic facilities available

bull Guided historic site tour by the owner

bull Tour of Joadja Whisky Distillery

bull Spanish tapas dinner on Saturday night

ExtrasExtra night (Sun) $6 per person

Beer with dinner $5 each

Wine with dinner $6 glass

Bookings

Email infoimotorhomecomau with your name and contact details and wersquoll put you on the list Payment via EFT required to confirm booking Space is limited so contact us today

Wersquove Booked Out The Valley

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

1 Due to licensing restrictions BYO is not available with the Saturday night dinner but okay at other times (like around the camp fire)

2 Access is via several kilometres of dirt road The final 2 km can be tricky after heavy rain and we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the event due to weather conditions In either case a full refund would be offered

3 Access isnrsquot recommended for coach-sized motorhomes but anything up to about 9 m will be fine

Fine Print (please read)

Click for Google Maps

now includes

Friday night

sausage sizzle

14 | news

LAST CHANCEhellip

WELCOME ABOARD

Next weekend ndash 11-13 Sep ndash is our inaugural iMotorhome get together at the Joadja Creek heritage site As

expected wersquove had a few people fall away due to family andor health issues The good news is therersquos still time to book a spot and come meet the iMotorhome team fellow motorhome owners and enjoy the tours food and fun wersquove got lined up

Our special guest is 4WD and motoring journalism guru Allan Whiting from

outbacktravelaustraliacomau who will ensure we have a roaring camp fire each night and be happy to answer your Outback and remote area travel technical or general motoring questions over a beer or two Yoursquoll need to book and pay quickly so see the ad on page 13 for full details ndash and all the terrific inclusions ndash and grab your spot now Tomorrow might be too latehellip

Clarinda Hoiberg joined the iMotorhome team this week and takes over the role of advertising sales contact vacated

by Keith Smyth following his retirement at the

end of June With a strong background in marketing as well as sales Clarinda moves into a new role and becomes our Business Development Manager Skill sets aside she also brings new ideas new perspectives and new enthusiasm to the business Although Clarinda has no direct experience in the RV market she does has a peripheral association with it and will no doubt quickly get to grips with things Brisbane-based shersquoll become a familiar voice to all iMotorhome advertisers ndash and prospects ndash so please join us in welcoming her to the team

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 10: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Hi just reading the latest edition great job Just a suggestion in relation to the mattress issues in your van we found our mattress lacking on long term trips We looked at a few options including a latex and slat under-system but at over $1000 it was way too much Instead we solved the problem for $18 by buying two packs of the clip together foam squares used as exercise mats (try Repco or Bunnings) We use it as underlay and it only raised the mattress by 25 mm The high density foam has the added bonus of providing great heat insulation as well as supporting the existing mattress We used the squares that had 25 mm holes in them to allow the mattress to

breathe ndash well thats my theory at least It might work for you and you could add more layers cheaply if you want a softer feel

Cheers David

Cheers indeed David as yoursquoll read in this issuersquos Project Polly update Wersquove taken your advice although for a couple of reasons we bought carpet-backed mats Havenrsquot tried them yet but I think theyrsquoll be an affordable step in the right direction Please accept this issue $50 prize for your suggestion which will at least pay for your mats ndash with coffee money left over

Itrsquos only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind you should be able to have yours too If you have anything to say ndash or ask ndash just drop a line to lettersimotorhomecomau and wersquoll share it with our readers Wersquoll also reward

the most interesting useful or thoughtful letter each issue with $50 to help you on your way

Mattress of Fact

Win $50 for the best letterOn your mind | 11

Macksville Mystery

Fiamma Issues

12 | On your mind

Re RV Friendly Macksville went there yesterday to check out the Lions Park where you stayed The area is marked No overnight Camping but you were not seeing things There is a sign on the southern entry to town proclaiming it RV Friendly It is marked as a CMCA sign that doesnt quite fit in with the contrary signs in the parking areaThere were three motorhomes there yesterday afternoon at four orsquoclock so perhaps they donrsquot enforce the rule I for one will stay there on the way back from Brisbane in about a month As they say you should rest every two hours and once settled in will not move unless directed to by the police

Cheers Adrian

Thanks Adrian Irsquove since learned that Macksville had its RV Friendly status revoked a couple of years back something to do with dump point location and parking proximity to the town centre I believe Anyway the sign is still there (although we couldnrsquot find it again when we went looking but Irsquom blaming fatigue) and I think yoursquore right in spirit at least Macksville is RV Friendly ndash even if the parking sign isnrsquot

Dear Sirs first of all my congratulations for such an interesting magazine I have been sifting through all 2015 and 2014 issues on your free PDF archive these last two days I noted that when there is an issue with Dometic you get in touch with their service department It would be nice if you could also forward any issues to me We have two valuable importers in Australia ndash Coast-to-Coast and Camec ndash but issues so strong to warrant a readerrsquos letter are coming back to us anyway

Thanks again John-David Pozzi Managing Director Fiamma SpA Italy

Thank you John-David for your kind words Rest assured if we hear of any further Fiamma product issues wersquoll be certain to share them with you

The inaugural iMotorhome get-together is being held at of one of Australiarsquos most interesting historical sites ndash Joadja Creek Set deep in a valley on the western fringe of the Southern Highlands of NSW this tranquil and picturesque location was once a thriving industrial centre and township complete with its own railway

Come and meet the iMotorhome team enjoy a guided site tour a tour of the recently completed Joadja Whisky Distillery and delight in an authentic Spanish tapas dinner followed by a few drinks by the camp fire

Wersquove booked out the valley for the weekend but space limited to about 20 motorhomes so book early and secure your spot

Date 11-13 September 2015

Location Joadja Creek Heritage Site NSW

Cost $59 per person

Whatrsquos Includedbull Entry fee

bull 2-nights non-powered camping (FriSat) with basic facilities available

bull Guided historic site tour by the owner

bull Tour of Joadja Whisky Distillery

bull Spanish tapas dinner on Saturday night

ExtrasExtra night (Sun) $6 per person

Beer with dinner $5 each

Wine with dinner $6 glass

Bookings

Email infoimotorhomecomau with your name and contact details and wersquoll put you on the list Payment via EFT required to confirm booking Space is limited so contact us today

Wersquove Booked Out The Valley

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

1 Due to licensing restrictions BYO is not available with the Saturday night dinner but okay at other times (like around the camp fire)

2 Access is via several kilometres of dirt road The final 2 km can be tricky after heavy rain and we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the event due to weather conditions In either case a full refund would be offered

3 Access isnrsquot recommended for coach-sized motorhomes but anything up to about 9 m will be fine

Fine Print (please read)

Click for Google Maps

now includes

Friday night

sausage sizzle

14 | news

LAST CHANCEhellip

WELCOME ABOARD

Next weekend ndash 11-13 Sep ndash is our inaugural iMotorhome get together at the Joadja Creek heritage site As

expected wersquove had a few people fall away due to family andor health issues The good news is therersquos still time to book a spot and come meet the iMotorhome team fellow motorhome owners and enjoy the tours food and fun wersquove got lined up

Our special guest is 4WD and motoring journalism guru Allan Whiting from

outbacktravelaustraliacomau who will ensure we have a roaring camp fire each night and be happy to answer your Outback and remote area travel technical or general motoring questions over a beer or two Yoursquoll need to book and pay quickly so see the ad on page 13 for full details ndash and all the terrific inclusions ndash and grab your spot now Tomorrow might be too latehellip

Clarinda Hoiberg joined the iMotorhome team this week and takes over the role of advertising sales contact vacated

by Keith Smyth following his retirement at the

end of June With a strong background in marketing as well as sales Clarinda moves into a new role and becomes our Business Development Manager Skill sets aside she also brings new ideas new perspectives and new enthusiasm to the business Although Clarinda has no direct experience in the RV market she does has a peripheral association with it and will no doubt quickly get to grips with things Brisbane-based shersquoll become a familiar voice to all iMotorhome advertisers ndash and prospects ndash so please join us in welcoming her to the team

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 11: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Macksville Mystery

Fiamma Issues

12 | On your mind

Re RV Friendly Macksville went there yesterday to check out the Lions Park where you stayed The area is marked No overnight Camping but you were not seeing things There is a sign on the southern entry to town proclaiming it RV Friendly It is marked as a CMCA sign that doesnt quite fit in with the contrary signs in the parking areaThere were three motorhomes there yesterday afternoon at four orsquoclock so perhaps they donrsquot enforce the rule I for one will stay there on the way back from Brisbane in about a month As they say you should rest every two hours and once settled in will not move unless directed to by the police

Cheers Adrian

Thanks Adrian Irsquove since learned that Macksville had its RV Friendly status revoked a couple of years back something to do with dump point location and parking proximity to the town centre I believe Anyway the sign is still there (although we couldnrsquot find it again when we went looking but Irsquom blaming fatigue) and I think yoursquore right in spirit at least Macksville is RV Friendly ndash even if the parking sign isnrsquot

Dear Sirs first of all my congratulations for such an interesting magazine I have been sifting through all 2015 and 2014 issues on your free PDF archive these last two days I noted that when there is an issue with Dometic you get in touch with their service department It would be nice if you could also forward any issues to me We have two valuable importers in Australia ndash Coast-to-Coast and Camec ndash but issues so strong to warrant a readerrsquos letter are coming back to us anyway

Thanks again John-David Pozzi Managing Director Fiamma SpA Italy

Thank you John-David for your kind words Rest assured if we hear of any further Fiamma product issues wersquoll be certain to share them with you

The inaugural iMotorhome get-together is being held at of one of Australiarsquos most interesting historical sites ndash Joadja Creek Set deep in a valley on the western fringe of the Southern Highlands of NSW this tranquil and picturesque location was once a thriving industrial centre and township complete with its own railway

Come and meet the iMotorhome team enjoy a guided site tour a tour of the recently completed Joadja Whisky Distillery and delight in an authentic Spanish tapas dinner followed by a few drinks by the camp fire

Wersquove booked out the valley for the weekend but space limited to about 20 motorhomes so book early and secure your spot

Date 11-13 September 2015

Location Joadja Creek Heritage Site NSW

Cost $59 per person

Whatrsquos Includedbull Entry fee

bull 2-nights non-powered camping (FriSat) with basic facilities available

bull Guided historic site tour by the owner

bull Tour of Joadja Whisky Distillery

bull Spanish tapas dinner on Saturday night

ExtrasExtra night (Sun) $6 per person

Beer with dinner $5 each

Wine with dinner $6 glass

Bookings

Email infoimotorhomecomau with your name and contact details and wersquoll put you on the list Payment via EFT required to confirm booking Space is limited so contact us today

Wersquove Booked Out The Valley

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

1 Due to licensing restrictions BYO is not available with the Saturday night dinner but okay at other times (like around the camp fire)

2 Access is via several kilometres of dirt road The final 2 km can be tricky after heavy rain and we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the event due to weather conditions In either case a full refund would be offered

3 Access isnrsquot recommended for coach-sized motorhomes but anything up to about 9 m will be fine

Fine Print (please read)

Click for Google Maps

now includes

Friday night

sausage sizzle

14 | news

LAST CHANCEhellip

WELCOME ABOARD

Next weekend ndash 11-13 Sep ndash is our inaugural iMotorhome get together at the Joadja Creek heritage site As

expected wersquove had a few people fall away due to family andor health issues The good news is therersquos still time to book a spot and come meet the iMotorhome team fellow motorhome owners and enjoy the tours food and fun wersquove got lined up

Our special guest is 4WD and motoring journalism guru Allan Whiting from

outbacktravelaustraliacomau who will ensure we have a roaring camp fire each night and be happy to answer your Outback and remote area travel technical or general motoring questions over a beer or two Yoursquoll need to book and pay quickly so see the ad on page 13 for full details ndash and all the terrific inclusions ndash and grab your spot now Tomorrow might be too latehellip

Clarinda Hoiberg joined the iMotorhome team this week and takes over the role of advertising sales contact vacated

by Keith Smyth following his retirement at the

end of June With a strong background in marketing as well as sales Clarinda moves into a new role and becomes our Business Development Manager Skill sets aside she also brings new ideas new perspectives and new enthusiasm to the business Although Clarinda has no direct experience in the RV market she does has a peripheral association with it and will no doubt quickly get to grips with things Brisbane-based shersquoll become a familiar voice to all iMotorhome advertisers ndash and prospects ndash so please join us in welcoming her to the team

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

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An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

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needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

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T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

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quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

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shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

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FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

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26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 12: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

The inaugural iMotorhome get-together is being held at of one of Australiarsquos most interesting historical sites ndash Joadja Creek Set deep in a valley on the western fringe of the Southern Highlands of NSW this tranquil and picturesque location was once a thriving industrial centre and township complete with its own railway

Come and meet the iMotorhome team enjoy a guided site tour a tour of the recently completed Joadja Whisky Distillery and delight in an authentic Spanish tapas dinner followed by a few drinks by the camp fire

Wersquove booked out the valley for the weekend but space limited to about 20 motorhomes so book early and secure your spot

Date 11-13 September 2015

Location Joadja Creek Heritage Site NSW

Cost $59 per person

Whatrsquos Includedbull Entry fee

bull 2-nights non-powered camping (FriSat) with basic facilities available

bull Guided historic site tour by the owner

bull Tour of Joadja Whisky Distillery

bull Spanish tapas dinner on Saturday night

ExtrasExtra night (Sun) $6 per person

Beer with dinner $5 each

Wine with dinner $6 glass

Bookings

Email infoimotorhomecomau with your name and contact details and wersquoll put you on the list Payment via EFT required to confirm booking Space is limited so contact us today

Wersquove Booked Out The Valley

iMotorhome mag

azin

e

because getting there is half the fun

1 Due to licensing restrictions BYO is not available with the Saturday night dinner but okay at other times (like around the camp fire)

2 Access is via several kilometres of dirt road The final 2 km can be tricky after heavy rain and we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the event due to weather conditions In either case a full refund would be offered

3 Access isnrsquot recommended for coach-sized motorhomes but anything up to about 9 m will be fine

Fine Print (please read)

Click for Google Maps

now includes

Friday night

sausage sizzle

14 | news

LAST CHANCEhellip

WELCOME ABOARD

Next weekend ndash 11-13 Sep ndash is our inaugural iMotorhome get together at the Joadja Creek heritage site As

expected wersquove had a few people fall away due to family andor health issues The good news is therersquos still time to book a spot and come meet the iMotorhome team fellow motorhome owners and enjoy the tours food and fun wersquove got lined up

Our special guest is 4WD and motoring journalism guru Allan Whiting from

outbacktravelaustraliacomau who will ensure we have a roaring camp fire each night and be happy to answer your Outback and remote area travel technical or general motoring questions over a beer or two Yoursquoll need to book and pay quickly so see the ad on page 13 for full details ndash and all the terrific inclusions ndash and grab your spot now Tomorrow might be too latehellip

Clarinda Hoiberg joined the iMotorhome team this week and takes over the role of advertising sales contact vacated

by Keith Smyth following his retirement at the

end of June With a strong background in marketing as well as sales Clarinda moves into a new role and becomes our Business Development Manager Skill sets aside she also brings new ideas new perspectives and new enthusiasm to the business Although Clarinda has no direct experience in the RV market she does has a peripheral association with it and will no doubt quickly get to grips with things Brisbane-based shersquoll become a familiar voice to all iMotorhome advertisers ndash and prospects ndash so please join us in welcoming her to the team

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 13: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

14 | news

LAST CHANCEhellip

WELCOME ABOARD

Next weekend ndash 11-13 Sep ndash is our inaugural iMotorhome get together at the Joadja Creek heritage site As

expected wersquove had a few people fall away due to family andor health issues The good news is therersquos still time to book a spot and come meet the iMotorhome team fellow motorhome owners and enjoy the tours food and fun wersquove got lined up

Our special guest is 4WD and motoring journalism guru Allan Whiting from

outbacktravelaustraliacomau who will ensure we have a roaring camp fire each night and be happy to answer your Outback and remote area travel technical or general motoring questions over a beer or two Yoursquoll need to book and pay quickly so see the ad on page 13 for full details ndash and all the terrific inclusions ndash and grab your spot now Tomorrow might be too latehellip

Clarinda Hoiberg joined the iMotorhome team this week and takes over the role of advertising sales contact vacated

by Keith Smyth following his retirement at the

end of June With a strong background in marketing as well as sales Clarinda moves into a new role and becomes our Business Development Manager Skill sets aside she also brings new ideas new perspectives and new enthusiasm to the business Although Clarinda has no direct experience in the RV market she does has a peripheral association with it and will no doubt quickly get to grips with things Brisbane-based shersquoll become a familiar voice to all iMotorhome advertisers ndash and prospects ndash so please join us in welcoming her to the team

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 14: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Reverse Alert is a world first automatic braking technology that can be applied to any vehicle ndash new or used

When the reverse gear is selected the rear sensors are activated If the sensors detect an object the brake is automatically applied - requiring no driver input

REVERSE ALERT

Protect your investment and the people around you

Visit wwwreversealertaustraliacomau or call 1300-to-reverse

Motorhome Reversing Safety

bull Avoid damage amp costly insurance premiumsbull Avoid accidental injuries from reversing incidentsbull Avoid low objects (bollards fence) and high objects (branches buildings)

World First Collision Avoidance System

Prices Start from $899 including installation Payment plans available

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 15: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

16 | news

FIAT DUCATO 4X4

TOP GONG FOR BALLINA CAMPERS

BIGPOND DIAL-UP ENDING

Fiat says its Ducato 4X4 Expedition revealed this week at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany wonrsquot ever

make it into production and is just an exercise to display ldquoIts now-how in all aspects of recreational vehicle engineeringrdquo The show van features a two-colour paint job in shades of grey raised ride-height widened track front skid-plate and LED daytime running lights It gets a winch plus a roof-rack ldquoWhich is fully equipped for an adventurous holiday and which also features a handy platform on which people can walk some two and a half metres above the groundrdquo according to Fiat

Four-wheel drive expert Dangel engineered the permanent all-wheel drive system with a viscous coupling while also raising the ride height and

adding oversized tyres and special wheels As a factory-finished adventure camper it does seem unlikely Fiat would go into production with the 4X4 Expedition but donrsquot be surprised to see the drive system ndash or a variation of it ndash slip into production Given Iveco has a lsquoheavy dutyrsquo 4X4 Daily it makes good marketing sense for sister-brand Fiat to offer a less hardcore but still capable four-wheel drive Ducato On the motorhome front a Ducato 4X4 would also silence those who decry the standard Ducatorsquos front-wheel drive system

ballina Campervan and Motorhome Centre makers of Horizon Motorhomes took out the top award in this years Ballina Coast amp Hinterland Business

Awards Owner Clayton Kearney said it was a great honour for the business especially considering it was something he more-or-less lsquofell intorsquo 20 years ago The company now employs 20 staff and has become a landmark business on River Street as well as a familiar face at city and regional RV shows across Australia

Telstra says its BigPond Dial-Up internet service will begin to be phased out from 21 September 2015 Dwindling customer

numbers and the uptake of mobile and wireless internet technologies has effectively made the system redundant Current Dial-Up customers

will be contacted by mail and advised of alternate services they can move to No action is required to close existing but unused accounts while those with early BigPond email addresses linked to Dial-Up accounts will retain them at no cost and with no action required

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

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11-13SEP

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08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 16: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

news | 17

TASSIE TOP TRIO

Tasmaniarsquos Cradle Mountain Port Arthur and Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) have been named in

Australiarsquos Top 10 lsquoUltimatersquo Sights by the Lonely Plant Guide with MONA also beating Londonrsquos prestigious Tate Modern by 32 places in the Guidersquos global top 500 lsquoBest Placesrsquo list MONA ranked 20th in the list and is the highest rated modern art gallery in the world also beating out New Yorkrsquos famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) according to Lonely Planet

Located 12 km for Hobartrsquos CBD Lonely Planet says ldquoMONA occupies a saucepan-shaped peninsula jutting into the Derwent River Arrayed across three underground levels abutting a sheer rock face the $75-million museum has been described by philanthropist owner David Walsh as lsquoa subversive adult Disneylandrsquo Ancient antiquities are showcased next to contemporary works sexy provocative disturbing and deeply engaging Dont miss itrdquo

MONA is also the cellar door for Moorilla a winery established in the 50s home to Moo Brew beer and has an outstanding restaurant It also hosts summer concerts on its lawns and in its pavilions and Hobartrsquos annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival in January

NORTHCOACHEQUIPMENT PTY LTD

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

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T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

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Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

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perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

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on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

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Bony Mountain Folk Festival

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iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

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To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

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1

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The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

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Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

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motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

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Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

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Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

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SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

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26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 17: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

18 | news

FREE RANGE CAMPING

The newly launched Free Range Camping website aims to become Australiarsquos number one resource for

travellers The site is the love child of Rob and Michelle Catania who in company with children Jade and Henry have been travelling for several years in a Hino bus-conversion motorhome

ldquoFor us wanting to remain on the road full time meant having to find different and affordable ways of doing so As a result we discovered house sitting volunteering and helping out farmers in exchange for accommodation As we travelled we found many struggling communities and businesses which increased our desire to shop locally wherever possible We found however that in each new town we came to it was often difficult to locate the businesses and services that we neededrdquo Rob said

ldquoWhat we needed and wanted was a directory that would not only include alternative camp site options but also connect us with the communities through which we were travelling Unfortunately what we wanted didnrsquot exist

so we decided to create one As a result we called on our long-time friend and IT guru Glen to assist us and the result is Free Range Camping ndash or FRCrdquo

The website categories comprise Free Camps Low Cost Rest Areas Dump Points House Sits Park Overs Help Out Business Directory and $25+ (caravan parksetc) You need to register and become a member to access information but registration is free and since inception in May membership has already reached 20000 and is growing strongly FRC also has an active social media presence with its Facebook Page already having more than 37000 Likes Click on the links to find out more

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

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24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

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An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

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Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

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We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

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T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

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T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

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1

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Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

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motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

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shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

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13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

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26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 18: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

news | 19

EXERCISE YOUR MOOD

According to the Black Dog Institute a large volume of research has found that exercise can significantly reduce mild to

moderate depression Exercise can help boost serotonin which plays a key role in the brain in regulating mood sleep and appetite It can increase your levels of endorphins which have natural mood-lifting properties Exercise can also provide a distraction from worrying and provide an increased sense of control while promoting social interaction

Exercise doesnrsquot have to be extremely strenuous to provide a benefit Even a brisk walk each day can make a real difference If you feel daunted start small and find something you feel good about doing Download the Exercise and Depression fact sheet or watch Black Dogrsquos Exercise Your Mood playlist on its YouTube channel

Webasto Thermo amp Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 423-427 The Boulevarde Kirrawee NSW 2232 Freecall 1800 244 494 infowebastocomau wwwwebastocomau

Webasto ndash your gas free solution for independent travelling

Thermo Top ndashWater Heaters

DieselCook Top

Air Top ndashAir Heaters

Dual Top ndash Combination Heaters

Quiet powerful operation

Low power amp fuel consumption

Use whilst parked amp on the move

Compact and effi cient

Fast heat up times Can be combined with fan radiators to provide cabin heat

Heat amp hot water from one unit

Easy to use multi-function controller

Low power amp fuel consumption

High cooking power up to 1800 W

No naked fl ame and no fumes

Robust high quality Ceranreg cooking surface

RVCompressorFridges

AU

1325

2

Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers

Available as DC Only or ACDC

Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

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24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

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An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

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built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

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T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

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T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

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in ideal conditions Super light

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quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

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hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 19: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

20 | news

A1955 VW T1 Samba Microbus Deluxe was sold for euro190000 (A$304000) at a recent auction in Berlin This beat

a record of US$217800 for a VW camper set in California in 2011 The Samba was built in February 1955 and sold new through Autohaus Retter in Innsbruck Austria It was

the Deluxe model and came equipped with chrome hubcaps a polished VW emblem two-tone paint (split by chrome trim) and a folding cloth sunroof

The Samba stayed in Austria until 1990 when it was sold to a British collector who repainted it in its original colours The sold vehicle was mostly original according to the auctioneers although it had been upgraded and repaired throughout its life Over the past 24 years the VW had covered a little over 10000 km The vehicle was sold with its original documentation supported by a certificate of authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum

VW AUCTION RECORD

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

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An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

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24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

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We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

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T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

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Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

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To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

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1

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The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

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wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

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motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

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shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

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13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

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26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 20: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t rsquos Fu l l Length S l ideout Room amp Apar tment

Sty led Layout

From WIRRAWAY ldquoAustraliarsquos Most Innovative Motorhomesrdquo

Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellenceOur Motorhomes are our passion Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by

experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the roadNew to our Range is the brilliant lsquolive like a movie starrsquo Wirraway 260 SL

the latest in our 260 series our EuroStyle 260 with itrsquos European styled interiorand ldquoThe Motorhome of the Yearrdquo the Wirraway 260

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence style and all the legendary designelectrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways

Each Wirraway Model is unique - All are a Must SeeView Our New Website to view All Models Download Brochures ampVirtual RealityTours

For details contact Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes 6 Hynes Court Mildura Vic 3500Phone Fax (03) 50 230 230 - New Email infowirrawaycomau amp New Website wwwwirrawaycomau

On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 copy Rex Willmer

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

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in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

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The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

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wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

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shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

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wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

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FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

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26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

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(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 21: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

22 | news

International scammers are calling Australian residents and delivering a pre-recorded message purportedly from the

Australian Tax Office (ATO) advising of alleged tax fraud The message leaves a number to call back and threatens various actions if you fail to do so Other scammers are calling and asking for people by name then threatening them with legal action if they donrsquot immediately make a payment While it should be obvious the ATO would never work in such a way vulnerable people have been intimidated by these calls and lost money Please advise family members and friends who might be impacted by such calls to disregard any such telephone calls The ATO only contacts people by personally addressed mail in regard to such matter

TAX OFFICE SCAMS

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

wwwebooktravellercomauFor more information visit

From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

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24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

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An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

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Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

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(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

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Click for Google Maps

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11-13SEP

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08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 22: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

news | 23

In the lead up to a Federal Government decision on a review into the Motor Vehicles Standards Act (MVSA) the Caravan Industry

Association of Australiarsquos (CIAA) CEO and Treasurer met two Cabinet Ministers to highlight industry concerns

According to a press release ldquoStuart Lamont Mark Lindsay Dennis Austin and Lobbying Advisor Neil Coulson met with the Hon Bruce Billson (Minister

for Small Business) on August 19 providing the Minister with a clear briefing on the state of the industry itrsquos importance to small business and growth in Australia and the industry position on MVSA Review as well as other compliance issuesrdquo

ldquoAs the Minister responsible for (the) ACCC particular attention was brought to the inconsistent regulatory burden commercial caravan parks face compared to low-cost or lsquofree-campingrsquo facilities and of the need for consistent enforcement of local state and federal regulation Caravan Industry Association of Australia is gaining unparalleled access to senior Federal Politicians with another round of meetings with senior politicians scheduled for early September as we press forward our goals for the industry forging an alliance with Government to achieve mutual goalsrdquo

CARAVAN INDUSTRY INCREASES LOBBYING

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From the ocean to the outback and destinations in betweenFancy some scenic touring through the Flinders Ranges or paddling a kayak on Cooper Creek Perhaps a bit of camping solitude in the Gawler Ranges is more to your liking Maybe a spot of fishing at Beachport or just lazing back at Melrose for a couple of days

Whatever your fancy this ebook for iPad contains a selection of 12 of South Australiarsquos most accessible and beautiful destinations that offer travellers great touring and fantastic camping opportunities

Whether yoursquore travelling by motorhome towing a caravan or just packing a tent there are destinations for everyone

12 DESTINATIONS

ONLY $999

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

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An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

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Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

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T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 23: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

24 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Parkland RV is the official dealer for Avida Motorhomes Crossroads RV and Opal Caravans in WA We stock quality used RVs and our modern service department can

look after everything

An official Avida motorhome dealer with more than 50 new

motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the

Southern Hemisphere Our service department is here for all your

needs too

Australiarsquos leading fifth wheelers designed here in Australia and

built to suit our demanding conditions Fifth wheelers from

24rsquo to 36rsquo available Call 02 4953 7141 for information

T (08) 9493 7933W parklandrvcomau

T 1800 253 136W robertsrvcomau

T (02) 4953 7141W summerlifervcomau

Parkland RV Centre Roberts RV World RV Specialists

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes

Easy to install they let you lsquolevel uprsquo for stability and safety

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth Explore by foot bike electric

cart or in your motorhome

T 1800 AIRBAGW airbagmancomau

T (02) 6881 1400W tarongaorgau

Airbag Man Batteries solar panels inverters alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V

power specialists

T (07) 3209 3144W batterytraderscomau

Battery Traders Super Store Taronga

Western Plains Zoo

This great Aussie festival in the bush is on again featuring the legendary Murphyrsquos Pigs Many other great

artists a Bush Poets breakfast billy tea damper great tucker ndash donrsquot miss it

Australiarsquos leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers We stock the revolutionary In Flex and

Mini Flex panels Plus our Complete Traveler Satellite TV package is

perfect for motorhomes

In the heart of Victoriarsquos Gippsland region Come and enjoy our natural beauty famous lakes High Country

and expansive beaches Find lsquoExperience 40 Great Things to Dorsquo

on our website too

T 1300 483 249W itechworldcomau bonymountainfolkfestivalcom

T (03) 5144 1108W tourismwellingtoncomau

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

iTech World Wellington Shire

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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11-13SEP

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Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

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11-13SEP

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08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 24: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

iMotorhome Marketplace | 25

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults

LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike25kmh with a range of 40km

in ideal conditions Super light

too at 108kg Folds away

quite compact for small storage

To find out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email

mje240adamcomauwwwe-twowcom

1

bull More Versatile Than Any Other RVbull Camp Anywhere - Itrsquos Self Containedbull Large Bathroom With Shower amp Toiletbull Easy To Operate With Electric Jacksbull Models For Single Extra amp Dual Cabsbull Plus Famous Ozcape Quality amp Support

5th wheeler specialist

hitches fully ADR compliantno swayingincreased towing safetyeasy reversingoffroad vans available

The Duvalay memory foam sleeping system - for those who enjoy a comfortable

nights sleep but hate making the bed All the comforts of home while you explore the extraordinary To order simply call (02) 6653 4640 or email infoduvalaycomau

wwwduvalaycomau

Nomadic Solutions - the original quality constructed

lsquolifestyletabletradersquo that is easily attached to the side of your

motorhome Now available in lsquomill finishrsquo for custom painting

Americarsquos favourite motorhome is now available in Australia Tiffin

Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the

Australian market Click through to find out why theyrsquore fast becoming

Australiarsquos favourite tooT (02) 9011 8144W nomadicsolutionscomau

T 0411 616 617W tiffinmotorhomescomau

Nomadic Solutions Tiffin Motorhomes

SSoouutthheerrnnCCaammppeerrvvaannss

SSppiirriitt

sliding amp rear doorFLY SCREEN

shy easy to self installshy Australian amp world wide deliveryfor Sprinter Hiace VW T4T5Ducato Transit from $229

Over13 1113 years13 cover13 manufacturing13 experience13 Australia13

wideFree13 Measure13 amp13 Quote13 Call13 in13 Factory13 135413 Mons13 Road13 13 Forest13 Glen13 13 Sunshine13 Coast13 Queensland13 13 PH-shy‐130013 30413 332075456481813 wwwcaravancoverscomau13 infocaravancoverscomau13 Qld13 Stockist13 of13 Duvalay13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR

MOTORHOMEStore those additional items up and out of

the way using our adjustable transportable and modular storage system

wwwskytrackscomau

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 25: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

26 | Feature

Our regular feature keeping you in touch with whatrsquos happened and happening in the world of freedom camping in Australia

These stories and more can be found in detail at the Freedom of Choice website indexed by state and town while you can also find the latest news and updates on their Facebook page

5 Aug ndash The voice of the consumer speaks out

A little while back we published a story about Alice Springs and the goings on there Well Caravan and Motorhome on Tour have spoken out with a relevant comment All we can say is You tell em Fred Spot on with your comment

10 Aug ndash Interesting comments from Jaycos Gerry Ryan

But it is not all smooth travelling Mr Ryan sees the sell-off of increasing numbers of holiday parks which are on some of Australias most prime real estate as one of the industrys greatest threats

Not a mention of freedom camping being one of the greatest threats

11 Aug ndash Showground camping debate comes to an end

Council officers had a series of meetings with the committee in the past year to discuss the site which was being used for camping for a fee However the area needed to become a registered caravan park for such activities to continue

12 Aug ndash Closure to hit campers and businesses

This story shows what can and does happen when a minority ruin it for the majority It is even acknowledged that local businesses will suffer

14 Aug ndash Local started petition for RV Friendly town to stay

Recently the Mount Remarkable District Councilrsquos announced their decision to discontinue their support with the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australiarsquos RV friendly Townrsquos scheme Concerned

Freedom Camping

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

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Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 26: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Feature | 27 the decision will have a negative effect Dave Wingrove of Wilmington has started a petition in hopes to change the Councilrsquos mind

14 Aug ndash Noosa council to trial ldquono standingrdquo zones to control campers

Illegal overnight van campers taking in Noosas million-dollar waters views may be hit with no standing fines on their vehicles this summer But this planned council crackdown by enforcement officers on these travelling scroungers may not be as rude as they could be with midnight wake-up calls ruled out

17 Aug ndash Squatters free ride hurts town

Campers squatting on Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley land have been branded as having a ldquoblatant disregardrdquo for local business and the environment The squatters ndash who risk a $100 on-the-spot fine ndash have angered the townrsquos business community with some saying the set-ups were unfair to paying guests and caravan parks (This article brought quite a response on social media)

19 Aug ndash Figures donrsquot lie

Over the years there has been much research on the value of RV travellers and of course there have been those who challenge the published results Phil Jones and his team a private project have during the past twelve months been interviewing campers at various sites around the country and now published the first twelve months results

20 Aug ndash Commercial caravan parks could lose if free camping is introduced in Gilgandra

This is a typical story of typical Council thinking Mr Batten said while Gilgandra wants to try to attract more visitors it should not adversely affect the business of other operatorsrdquo I do wonder if this same Council approved the opening of a new Bunnings or Woollies would show the same concern for the local hardware store or the grocer down the road Most likely not ndash that would be considered healthy competition

20 Aug ndash Free camping fiasco ndash the real story behind the Tweed Head situation

Campers have been using the park along the railway tracks in the centre of Burringbar for most of the past 12 months with few incidents and local shop owners are grateful for the boost in business

However the type of campers using the park has recently changed from backpackers and grey nomads to squatters who are causing significant problems for local residents

20 Aug ndash Macarthur says back free camping or lose

A few months ago there was a bit of a news flurry from Warrnambool re the loss of the tourist trade Well here is a bit of advice from a community that knows how to attract the tourism trade

23 Aug ndash A rosy future ndash Grey Nomads are in the minority

We are constantly told freedom camping is causing the caravan park industry a hard time but then we see articles where statements like this are made ldquoAssociation chief executive Stuart Lamont said the figures showed the industry was constantly growingrdquo

26 Aug ndash Over 90 support for proposed showground camping

Campers are now able to set up camp amongst the sweeping hills and countryside of Moss Vale on the New South Wales Southern Highlands throughout the year

28 Aug ndash Burringbar traders suffer as campers turned away

This is a typical story of what happens when a council makes a sweeping decision because of the actions of a few

28 Aug ndash Not all tourism is good tourism

Well apparently it is good as long as your arenrsquot a freedom camper With statements being made by the head of a supposed tourism body one has to wonder how much they want tourism Their priorities are clearly defined in the opening statement in this story

28 Aug ndash Yet another council being pressured by the caravan park lobby

West Coast caravan park owners are pleading with the Council to reduce the significant impact of free camping on their businesses

28 Aug ndash Is camping in car parks really a crime

Interesting radio interview on Radio 4BC

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

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Sep 25-27

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

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11-13SEP

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08-11OCT

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11-13SEP

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08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 27: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Malcolm Street takes Trakkarsquos Torino Xtra for a short hop to the snowhellip

28 | Touring Test Trakka Torino Xtra

Snow Bunny

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

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08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 28: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Winter is the time many head north but Im one who likes to head the other way to the High Country snow

fields I donrsquot get there as often as Irsquod like but a recent opportunity came my way courtesy of Trakka to take their updated Torino Xtra to the Jindabyne and Perisher Valley ski fields How could I refuse

Trakka was keen for me to sample the updated Torino Xtra and I was too as recent modifications to the rear bed area means that largish or oddly shaped cargos can now be carried Cargos like ski gear Also of interest being winter was a new diesel-fired heater Trumarsquos Combi D6 Not only is it a heater it also supplies hot water via a 10-litre tank

Theres another reason why I took the Torino to the snow Trakka uses Fiatrsquos Multijet 180

Ducato van for its conversion which comes with the most powerful of all Ducato turbo-diesels ndash the 30-litre 132 kW400 Nm version Its ideal for not only a quick trip but gives a great performance on mountain roads Additionally front-wheel drive is easiest for fitting snow chains and the best arrangement as traction steering and braking are on the same wheels Not that I needed the chains as a Canadian friend rather dryly pointed out on my Facebook pagehellip

Next Generation

Trakka has been building its popular Fiat Ducato-based Torino Xtra van conversions for a number of years Itrsquos

something of an evolving design that reflects not only customer feedback it integrates the latest technologies and materials available

Overnighting in Berridale on the Monaro Highway within an easy morningrsquos drive of the ski fields The Torino Xtrarsquos compact size makes it unobtrusive while the central heating proved its worth So did the Duvalay Trakka kindly provided

Touring Test | 29

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 29: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

The Torino Xtra is now built on the new generation Ducato It features revised frontal styling with higher headlights and a bumper made from more individual components which makes things easier in the event of an accident Inside the cab the instrument panel has had a bit of a makeover but undoubtedly the most exciting thing is the upgraded radio which is much more a multi-media unit than before However this model did not have the Sat Nav feature which apparently is still under development for Australia instead relying on a TomTom unit for navigation I also noted the much anticipated Ducato cup holders are still not available however Trakkarsquos supplied ones work quite well

Innovation

Being a van conversion there isnt any external storage other than toilet cassette and power cable bins However theres

good storage underneath the bed at the rear Until now the bed in this variant of the Torino was just a fixed east-west unit with storage below accessible via the rear doors What the Trakka team decided was to make the motorhome more functional (not that it wasnrsquot already) by making the bed base in three sections and hinging the middle section so it can be fully lifted to one side Additionally the bed supporting panel is also hinged opening up a central aislewalk way

The test Torino Xtra came with Trakkarsquos optional Remote Package It includes a 135

W solar panel Webasto X100 diesel-fired cooker and a diesel-fired combination hot

water and space heating system which makes the vehicle LPG-free It also includes upgraded thermal (and sound) insulation ndash

ideal for winter camping

30 | Touring Test

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 30: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Four tie hooks are fitted to the floor so a bicycle or something like a small kayak can be safely carried In this instance my snow skis fitted without any problem Indeed were this my motorhome Id problem just cut an appropriately sized slot in the floor panel thus pinning the skis in place and not have to worry about lifting the bed at all

One concern with lifting the bed to fit something in would mean having to make it up every night However a simple solution is to use a Duvalay ndash the memory foam luxury sleeping bags that roll up so easily Trakka happens to be an agent for them which is not only why I mention them but because I was able to try one out under cold frosty

conditions ndash test passed successfully

As well as the new bed design Trakka has made some subtle changes to the interior decor including the lining colour scheme and lighting Therersquos nothing that changes the Trakka character though

Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst

providing good back support

Touring Test | 31

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 31: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Hitting the Road

After having loaded all my goodies it was time to hit the road My original destination after a late afternoon

departure was Canberra but a mid week early evening drive down the Monaro and Snowy Mountains Highways is quite a pleasant experience especially compared to a winter weekend So instead of Canberra a discrete parking spot in the quiet little town of Berridale gave me an opportunity to test heater and Duvalay on a rather frosty night One of the benefits of a diesel heater is it can be turned on prior to reaching your intended destination thus guaranteeing a toasty night when finally parked up Berridale is within easy striking distance of both Jindabyne where a National Park Pass and snow chains can be acquired and the ski-field car park at Perisher Valley

Below A motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Bottom Front-wheel drive is best in the snow and makes chain fitting easier

32 | Touring Test

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

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Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

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11-13SEP

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08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 32: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Access is easy via the big side door Note the deep entry step flip-up outdoor table below the conveniently located light switches and the pole for the removable TV which you can swivel to view from outside

Touring Test | 33

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

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11-13SEP

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08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

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08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 33: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

One of the things I like about taking a motorhome to the snow country is that its possible to ski in a bit of style without breaking the bank For instance a motorhome offers a comfortable change room the ability to whip up a hot meal and even have a shower if desired Oh and of course a warm environment if the weather turns nasty Im frequently the only motorhome in the ski-field car parks but on this trip was interested to note half a dozen others on the days I visited

Above The Torino Xtrarsquos redesigned east-west bed now has a lift-up centre section to accommodate bulky items like a bike kayak etc as well as provide a walk-through interior Right Malcolm would cut a hatch to allow his skis to protrude without disrupting the bed

34 | Touring Test

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 34: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Top to bottom While not keen on diesel-powered cooking due to a self-confessed lack of patience Malcolm concedes an LPG-free motorhome is probably worth the tradeoff Note the acrylic splashback and generous storage provision

Diesel Power and More

My Torino Xtra also came with a diesel-fired cooktop While eliminating the need for gas

cylinders and therefore providing more storage space it does require a change in cooking style I have to admit I am not patient enough for diesel fired cooking but I did manage to cook my simple meals without too much trouble

As noted Trakka has opted for an east-west bed arrangement in the Torino Xtra Apart from anything it allows a two person passenger seat behind the drivers seat and a decent dinette Additionally theres a kitchen bench along the kerbside wall a bathroom cubicle opposite and a fridgemicrowave behind the rear seat Both cab seats swivel offering the essential feature of comfortable seats to relax in whilst providing good back support A small hinged flap by the rear seat offers space for drinks and nibbles while a pole-mounted table is also provided which stores under the bed when not required

The kitchen is quite a simple set up Fitted into the benchtop are the Webasto diesel cooktop and a round stainless steel sink Theres no drainer with the sink but hiding in one of the cupboards is a neat plastic item that splits into a drying rack and drainer tray Fitted under the bench are six drawers of various sizes whilst a curved end on the bench unit has a cupboard enclosed by one of Trakkarsquos signature roller-shutter doors Itrsquos good for space saving and is easily accessible from inside and out Two smallish overhead lockers are fitted whilst a third in the middle acts as the easy-to-use electrical control centre

On the subject of electrics and lighting these seem to be constantly evolving But once mastered they provide everything you need from bright reading lights to dim night

Touring Test | 35

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

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2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

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11-13SEP

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Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 35: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

lights All are LED of course and often discretely hidden Another feature worth mentioning is the pole-mounted TV at the end of the kitchen bench Although it looks like its stuck in the doorway its really in an ideal location

As I discovered one early frosty morning the bathroom has a heater duct in it ndash very nice Of course itrsquos also Trakkas Switch Mode Bathroom which means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed when a push of a remote control button brings it out into position Having the cassette toilet out of the way provides plenty of shower room which is a big bonus in a smaller van A classy feature is the three-sided mirror with the LED strip lighting inserts while a benefit of the bathroomrsquos sliding door is it closes the bathroom off quite effectively yet requires no extra space for opening and closing

What I think

On my little sojourn to the Snowy Mountains I took time out to explore the GuthegaIsland Bend areas Especially

in winter time places like these away from the busy skiing centre are not only peaceful they present snowy vistas terrific for photography The Torino is excellent for places like these large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

Its not difficult to see how the new folding bed design adds to the appeal of the Torino Xtra Itrsquos there if needed including the bonus of a clear walkway but otherwise is just a conventional east-west bed For taller travellers there is an alternative Torino layout that loses the rear seat but does have north-south beds ndash double or singles In short the Torino is a very versatile motorhome whichever model you choose

The bedroom gets a concertina privacy screen and plenty of overhead cupboard space The combination of mains power points12 V socket and dual 5 V USB charging outlets plus adjacent shelves makes this corner an ideal charging station

36 | Touring Test

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

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(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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11-13SEP

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11-13SEP

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08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 36: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Touring Test | 37 Trakkas Switch

Mode Bathroom means the toilet hides under the hand basin until needed

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 37: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Above During the day the bedroom is bright and airy and the fixed bed can of course be left made up Left Bed access is via the aisle which curves to the right aft of the kitchen Note the deep bedside table which has charging outlets above and a half-height wardrobe below

The east-west bed wonrsquot suit taller people but an alternative Torino layout has twin single beds running north-south which can also make into a near king-sized bed The compromise is you loose the front dinette and passenger seat

38 | Touring Test

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 38: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

SpecificationsManufacturer Trakka

Model Torino Xtra

Class Van Conversion

Berths 2

Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato

Engine 30 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW 3500 rpm

Torque 400 Nm 1800 rpm

Gearbox 6-speed AMT

Brakes ABS Disc

Tare Weight 3200 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg

Towing capacity 2500 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 4

External Length 637 m (20rsquo 11rdquo)

External Width 205 m (6rsquo 9rdquo)

External Height 268 m (8rsquo 10rdquo)

Internal Height 193 m (6rsquo 3rdquo)

Rear Bed Size 186 m x 123 m (6rsquo 1rdquo x 4rsquo)

Luton Bed Size NA

Dinette Bed Size NA

Cooktop Webasto X100 diesel

Fridge Waeco 136 L 12240 V

Microwave Yes

Lighting 12 V LED

Batteries 2 x 100 AH

Solar Panels 1 x 135 W

Air Conditioner Opt

Space Heater Truma Combi D6 diesel

Hot Water Truma Combi D6 diesel 10 L

Toilet Cassette 19 L

Shower Flex-hose variable height

Gas Cylinders NA

Water Tank 120 L

Grey Water Tank 80 L

Price from (on road in NSW) $129500

Price as tested (on road in NSW) $139500

bull A 636 m (21ft) van conversion with just about everything

bull Multiple-use rear bed areabull Seating for fourbull Effective diesel-fired space

heaterbull Front cablounge area for fourbull LED lighting systembull Generally good internal storagebull Driving experience on the open

road

bull Diesel cooktop slowbull If transporting large items bed

has to be made up each nightbull Bed length a problem for

persons of heightbull Kerbside under-bed storage

fiddly for large itemsbull Not having the keys long

enough

Pros

Cons

Supplied byTrakka

Click for Google Maps9 Beaumont Rd

Mt Kuring-gai NSW T 1800 872 552E trakkatrakkacomau W wwwtrakkacomau

Options Fitted Remote Pack metallic paint alloy wheels

Touring Test | 39

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 39: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

The Torino is excellent large enough to camp in in style but small enough not have any trouble negotiating narrow tracks

40 | Touring Test

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 40: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Enjoy the ultimate go-anywhere off road adventure with the Jabiru 4x4 Xtra From

Alice Springs to Halls Creek and via Tamani Track reach isolated camp

spots which require solid ground clearance and traction with this

high performance luxury vehicle

Jabiru 4x4 Xtra Redefine your camping adventure

Visit trakkacom or call 1800 TRAKKA

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

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Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

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Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 41: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Dirty Little SecretsMrs iMotorhome makes Polly come clean as she unlocks many dirty little secretshellipby Richard Robertson

Never one to sit around and navel gaze Mrs iMotorhome has used her time off between work trips to get cracking on

Project Polly The plan was to do a thorough clean first but as she soon realised there was no point cleaning the whole vehicle before creating a whole new mess So starting at the top and working down shersquos been hard at work getting to know Pollyrsquos dirtiest little secrets ndash and making her come clean ndash while also getting stuck in to a range of mini and not-so-mini projects

Polly spent five years in the Apollo Motorhome Holidays rental fleet and although cleaned between trips the gunk and grime in hard-to-

reach places never got much of a look in She obviously spent plenty of time by the sea too as there is surface rust on many internal metal fittings plus the roof The bottom runner of the slide-out pantry looks like itrsquos been at the bottom of the ocean and took some serious effort to make it fully extend which now makes access so much easier With every drive we do hunting rattles or just popping out for coffee new bits of detritus appear but the amount is lessening and hopefully it wonrsquot be too long until the clean-swept floor remains that way

42 | Project Polly

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

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(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

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Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

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66 | next issue

Page 42: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Top to Bottom

Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards are high-set and on the shallow side which limits carrying capacity but provides good

headroom and reduces the vanrsquos inherent tunnel feeling One of our pet hates is overhead cupboards without a lip to stop things falling out when you open them Talvorrsquos designers however went too far and installed small ornate stainless steel lsquofencesrsquo an inch or more back from the edge reducing storage room and basically getting in the way So while I wasnrsquot looking Mrs iM whipped them out cleaned the cupboards thoroughly and installed non-slip matting cut to shape Irsquod already tightened the hinges and fitted little stick-on dots near the latches which has basically eliminated door rattle so all-in-all itrsquos lsquojob donersquo on this part of Polly Well for now

Speaking of stopping things rattling wersquove found various bits of paper and cardboard sticky-taped on or wedged into place by renters over the years to stop rattles and as we find them wersquore making more permanent ndash and stylish ndash fixes I also discovered the full-height wardrobe door which has a lock halfway up rattled something fierce at the top and bottom Fortunately some leftover foam-backed weather seal from our house doors has fixed that And speaking of stick-on dots

Above Pollyrsquos overhead cupboards arenrsquot big and while she came with ornate chrome lsquofencesrsquo to stop things falling out they were set too deep inside and took up too much room In their place now is cut-to-size nonslip matting while clear stick-on dots near the latches stop the doors from rattling Middle Just some of the detritus found hidden in nooks and crannies Bottom Foam weather-seal leftover from our house doors stops the wardrobe door rattling

Project Polly | 43

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

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Sep 25-27

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

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66 | next issue

Page 43: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Pollyrsquos bare metal interior panels are lsquodottedrsquo with holes of various shapes and sizes making her look rather utilitarian Mrs iM had the bright idea of buying a pack of removable stick-on white labels and spent a good 30 minutes or so carefully covering a myriad of smaller holes Not only does the interior now look better they canwill be easily removed should we discover a more permanent solution There are still some bigger holes to contend with and wersquore looking at covering the bare metal with marine carpet or similar so any suggestions will be gratefully received

Curtain Call

Next on the agenda were the curtains Bright red thick bulky and pleated they seemed to oppress the interior

yet were unlined so had limited insulative properties and still let some light through Go figure Fortunately Mrs iM is an accomplished seamstress and we found some properly-backed curtain material at our local Lincraft store thatrsquos not only lighter in weight its colour and subtle stripe design closely matches our Duvalays

The new curtains are designed to sit as flat as possible and include small magnets in strategic places to take advantage of the bare metal window surrounds One of Pollyrsquos more interesting design features is a short back-board between the sides of each bed and the her bare metal side walls These not only provide support when using the beds as seats they keep you off the cold walls at night prevent condensation wetting the bedding and provide something to tuck the curtains behind The only downside is a small width reduction in each bed ndash about 15 mm ndash but itrsquos worth the tradeoff

The Silver Screenshellip

Custom-made Solarscreen window shades are on order for the side windows which will go a long way to

keeping us snug Windscreencab and rear-

Top A box full of round self-adhesive labels is proving ideal for covering the myriad of little holes in the Transitrsquos body Middle Out they come Itrsquos curtains for the old curtains Above Mrs iM hard at work running up the new curtains

44 | Project Polly

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

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Sep 25-27

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11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

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Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 44: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

door screens are also coming which will give us the total Solarscreen treatment Jamie from Solarscreen is generously donating the set to Project Polly but using us as Guinea pigs to trail a new material

More than just reflective foil window shades each Solarscreen is made from seven layers that combine to block visible infra-red and ultra violet light The seven layer lsquosandwichrsquo combines aluminium foil with expanded polyethylene anti-condensation PVC film and even anti-allergenic padding to produce robust screens that suction-cup onto glass andor velcro onto the walls when things like flyscreens get in the way Well thatrsquos the current material Our custom set will feature new nine-layer construction that will hopefully deliver even better results and wersquoll be bring you updates on them as we travel

All Solarscreen sets are made to order but Jamie uses standard screen templates for the windscreen and cab windows plus the rear windows of popular vehicle makes Pollyrsquos side windows might look like stock Ford items but theyrsquore after-market items and as such require custom made screens To make them Jamie sent us a template kit with detailed instructions even I could follow The kit comprised several big sheets of clear plastic a permanent maker pen ndash and some Blu Tack Mrs iM dived straight in and soon had plastic sheets Blu Tacked in place and was happily drawing outlines marking handles flyscreen areas and other suction-cup lsquono-gorsquo areas like those behind the kitchen cupboards Where we have identical windows on both sides we only needed to make one template but mark it carefully and note it for use as a mirror image Irsquom certain Jamie must have a degree in Egyptology as the resultant lines and notes looked remarkably like hieroglyphics It will be interesting to see what we actually get Fingers crossed

Top to bottom The side windows are after-market items and wersquove had to make templates of them so Solarscreen can make us a custom set of insulative screens Not as easy as it seems

Project Polly | 45

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

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Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

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11-13SEP

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08-11OCT

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08-11OCT

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Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 45: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Mattress of Facthellip

From the moment I first drove Polly one of the most annoying design flaws saw the kerbside mattress slide off the bed base

into the aisle as soon as we got underway The reason was simple The mattress fabric didnrsquot grip the bed base The driverrsquos-side mattress is held in place by the Lagan table mount so it was only a problem on one side As the bed bases sit on an open metal frame I attached two bungee straps to two of the frame legs and hooked the other ends over the bed backing-board keeping the mattress securely in place Effective but hardly elegant

The mattress covers which are very clean and in excellent condition look much better and less lsquoout therersquo now the red curtains are gone Polly also came with a pair of bed-length backrest

cushions in olive green covers which were supposed to double as part of the king bed setup but didrsquot fit very well One has been cut in half and will do as backrests when dining and partial in-fill cushions should we make up the big bed and later will be recovered or replaced as we find out how well they work

Wersquove been debating what to do with the ageing mattress foam Do we replace it with new foam innerspring mattresses or carry on a bit longer and use a topper Recently a reader came up with an idea weve implemented at least as a temporary measure and an interesting one it is The suggestion was to use floor exercise mats made of foam as both added insulation and for a measure of extra comfort under the existing mattresses Bunnings was the suggested outlet but instead of buying the ordinary foam mats we

Wersquore trying floor exercise mats as under-mattress insulation and extra support Only a little trimming was needed to make them fit while Velcro holds them in place on the wooden bed bases Note the metal bed supports rather than traditional wooden cabinets

46 | Project Polly

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 46: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Pollyrsquos long back cushions are being lsquomodifiedrsquo to better suit our requirements If it works new covers will replace the drab green originals However wersquore quite happyused to the lsquogroovyrsquo mattress covers now

bought carpet-topped mats that not only look better we hoped they would provide a bit more grip

We bought three packs of four mats and Mrs iM soon had the mats from two packs in place on the bed bases Slightly longer than required when joined together it took us a few minutes experimentation to come up with the best solution The problem was they were also a bit narrower than the bed bases but we needed the third pack to make padding for the centre boards for when we make up the big bed The solution was to mount them as close to the aisle-side bed-edge as possible leaving the narrow (2 cm) gap between them and the bed backing-boards as you can neither lie in that small space or sit on it

Minimal trimming to the overall length was required but even with the foam backing-side down they still slid off the smooth bed bases The solution has been velcro while on top the mattresses covers grip nicely on the matrsquos carpet finish and no longer head for the floor at every opportunity Wersquore yet to sleep on them to test their efficacy ndash wersquoll get our first chance at our inaugural Joadja get-together next weekend ndash but the worst case scenario is $55 and about an hours time wasted

The main reason the twin bedopen aisle floor plan appeals is our need to transport a tandem bicycle Some experimentation showed that if I lie the bike at and angle so the tyres rest against where the driverrsquos-side bed frame joins the floor and the bike frame rests against the kerb-side mattress it fits perfectly All I do then is use one

Project Polly | 47

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 47: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Wersquore trialling the 303 range of automotive cleaners and so far so good

of the afore-mentioned bungee cords to hold it against the mattress to stop it moving around Wersquove also discovered the rear barn doors make a great general entryexit point with access enhanced by the rear step They also avoid the lsquowhizz-bangrsquo of the side door and the effort required to slide it The things you discoverhellip

303 Loaded

The clean-as-we-go regime has been accompanied by liberal use of some of the 303 range of high tech surface spays

and protectants supplied as a test batch by importer Trico Wersquove concentrated on the Multi-Surface Cleaner which has cut through much of the grease and grime in those out of the way places as well as giving all the overhead cupboards a new lease of life It also worked a treat on the driverrsquos door armrest which looked particularly manky

We still have Spot Cleaner Speed Detailer Fabric Guard and Aerospace Protectant to try plus Aerospace Protectant wipes Rather than rush

out and try them all at once wersquoll use them as they seem appropriate and report back I should mention the 303-branded blue cleaning cloths we also received as they seem equally at home cleaning or buffing plus are a great size to put under the glass lids of the stove and sink to stop rattles This also means theyrsquore immediately on-hand when cleaning duties call

Next Issue

Already Polly feels lsquotransformedrsquo Itrsquos due in no small part to the new curtains which look as good from the outside

as inside plus reduced rattles and a general feeling of cleanliness Our own things are progressively filling shelves and cupboards and itrsquos finally beginning to feel like shersquos ours With the bedroom area and curtains largely sorted next issue Irsquoll share our first adventure into lsquoproperrsquo DIY ndash and in a confined space

There is still much we plan to do ndash some things big and some small ndash and Irsquom also coming to terms with the realities of buying a vehicle thatrsquos been lsquowell usedrsquo One thing this whole process hasnrsquot been is boring Buying a new motorhome certainly has its appeal but taking a tired older model and giving it a new lease of life has its charms too By the time wersquore done ndash if ever ndash wersquoll know Polly inside out in a way many people probably wonrsquot know their factory-fresh motorhomes Having already discovering many of her dirty little secrets by journeyrsquos end wersquoll likely discover more Watch this space

48 | Project Polly

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 48: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Budget Matters

Buying a motorhome is often just the start of the spending process especially if itrsquos pre-owned Like most people wersquore on a

budget and have to balance wants and needs In this Project Polly series Irsquoll use full retail costs as the reference point for expenditure to provide real world costings although thanks to generous discounts and deals from a number of suppliers wersquore spending considerably less

For the record we received a sizeable discount from Apollo but the balance was substantial enough to require finance In the interests of commercial confidentiality Irsquoll keep those figures private Irsquom setting a theoretical spending limit of $50000 on Project Polly all-up with gives us approximately $6500 to spend after allowing for the purchase price registration and insurance costs but not including sign writing Herersquos a breakdown of our spend so far

Above Our tandem fits perfectly down the aisle and sits very securely in place Note the new curtains plus the wooden box under the bed on the right It holds hoses the power lead etc while just forward of it is the box for the Suburban hot water service Below Two 303-branded cleaning cloths are doing double duty as anti-rattle mats

Project Polly | 49

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 49: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Plans and DreamsBasic modifications and improvements aside here in no particular order are the bigger-ticketmore complex items planned or dreamed ofhellip

bull Diesel heater

bull Bathroom cabinet

bull Bathroom corner sink

bull Roof hatch upgrade

bull CB radio

bull Nudge bar and driving lights

bull Day running lights and headlight upgrade

bull Passenger seat swivel base which will probably necessitate relocation of the house battery

bull Pole table amp flip-up kitchen bench extension to work with swivelled passenger seat

bull Side and rear-door flyscreens

bull House battery upgrade

bull Solar

bull Interior LED strip lights

bull Motion detecting LED exterior lights

bull Swing-away bike rack

What are the chances of all these coming to pass within our budget What are the realities of some of them at all Follow Project Polly as we make her the best motorhome possible for our needs and seek to inspire your dreams

Organised chaos Itrsquos been all go with Project Polly as we work out what goes where and just how wersquoll use her Next issue we talk about real DIY ndash yes drills and stuff ndash and in a confined space Donrsquot miss it

50 | Project Polly

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 50: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Vehicle purchase $4150000

New house battery $30000

NRMA Business Wise - road service $37900

Comprehensive Insurance $55800

NSW registration inspection $11596

NSW LPG-system inspection $8250

NSW registration lsquogreen sliprsquo $40662

NSW registration - 12 months $77800

NSW Stamp duty $78000

NSW personal number plate fee $22000

Total up-front costs $4512008

Less Apollo refund of registration transfer costs -$29846

Less Apollo refund of stamp duty -$78000

Less Apollo refund of 6 months registrationgreen slip -$61331

Sub-total -$169177

Total on-road costs $4342831

AccessoriesModifications

Plastic storage containers $3900

Doormat cutting boards non-slip matting $2000

10 Amp fuses amp electrical tape $508

Bamboo cutlery drawer $1200

LPG safety switch $2999

Fuses and tape $508

Curtain fabric hooks thread amp magnets $13645

Carpet-backed foam mats $5550

Total accessoriesmodifications to date $26410

Total expenditure to date $4369241

Budget $5000000

Available $630759

Project Polly Costings to Date

Project Polly | 51

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 51: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

52 | Feature

SurvivorA personal tale of redemption with an RV twisthellipby Sharon Hollamby

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 52: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Feature | 53

As I watched another motorhome drive past I must admit to a twinge of envy but I consoled myself with the

knowledge that it would be my turn soon

I didnrsquot always have this much hope for the future in fact for a long time I saw no future for myself at all With loneliness depression anxiety panic attacks and agoraphobia suicide was never far from my thoughts

You see I had a poker machine addiction

In 1995 when pokies first came to South Australia there were a lot of issues going on in my life An accident at work children with problems an abusive boss a husband working away and moving from a suburb with great neighbours to a small unfriendly town were just a few of the problems When my young nephew died grief made a big addition to the list

One day a lady I knew asked me to go into town with her and took me to a hotel gaming room I watched as she poured the dollar coins into the machine but soon got bored so for something to do more than actual thirst I bought a drink I was given two one-dollar coins in the change which of course is a trap by the industry and one I fell into easily

A two dollar coin would have gone straight into my purse but as the one dollar coins glittered in my hand I thought why not I inserted

the coins into the machine and pressed the button The music went off the reels started spinning all by themselves and I looked around guiltily thinking that somehow I had broken the machine

As it turned out I had won about $400 which was a lot of money for us back then The attendant said ldquoWell donerdquo and as no one had said that to me in a long time it felt good

So it all started innocently enough and I only went to the pokies between appointments or on pay day but the deliberate hypnotic nature of the machines soon worked their guile and I was hooked As the problems arose in my life that I no longer had the strength to deal with I turned to the machines and they would anaesthetise me

No Win Situation

Of course we are not meant to win on those things and pretty soon I was losing a lot more than we could afford

My life was about to come crashing down around my ears and I felt powerless Over the next few years I lost my home my husband my children most of my family and a lot of time and money but most of all I lost my self-respect Like a junkie or an alcoholic I was addicted but it was an addiction that was little understood

For a while I was forced to live in a caravan park because I had nowhere else to go I kept trying everything possible to quit gambling but it just made me feel like even more of a loser because nothing seemed to work Whenever things went wrong in my life like the death of my father and mother I would find myself back in front of the machines Besides being alone now the only one I was hurting was myself or so I thought

Eventually I began to feel as if people could walk straight through me and it was a scary sensation That is when the panic attacks

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 53: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

began Unable to breath I would race home and hide away with the door shut and curtains drawn I could not deal with people I had nothing to contribute to society

Counselling was helpful but it didnrsquot really change anything and I still felt alone The Statewide Gambling Services where they use cognitive behaviour therapy was not successful either Support groups were okay but at the time I wasnrsquot ready to listen to other peoplersquos problems I had enough of my own

Turning the Cornerhellip

In 2007 and after gambling for 12 years I was asked to join the Consumer Voice Programme run by Relationships Australia

We would learn to tell our story publicly and hopefully educate people on the dangers of gambling My first speaking engagement was nerve wracking but incredibly empowering

Relapse was never far away though and I longed for the day I would beat this addiction completely Unable to work I was forced to go on unemployment benefits and my entire first

pay went into the pokies I didnrsquot know what to do or where to turn With tears running down my face and unable to breath I found myself at the health village A lot of people donrsquot believe that gambling is a physical addiction but I can assure you it is

Extremely emotional I blurted my story out to a counsellor who made an appointment for me to see a psychologist There we looked at my dysfunctional childhood my abusive partners and everything that had happened in my life until I was able to acknowledge that my life had not been an easy one

When the psychologist said to me ldquoItrsquos no wonder you turned to something to coperdquo it all started to make sense That didnrsquot mean I was blaming anyone it was how I reacted to the issues in my life that was the problem

He also made me realise that each time I had tried something to stop gambling it had not been a failure Just as you canrsquot fix a car without the right tools you canrsquot fix yourself without the right treatment For me understanding why I was gambling was vital to

54 | Feature

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 54: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

my recovery

One day I met a young lady who had also been addicted to the pokies she is a passionate activist and has since taught me a lot Together we formed Communities Against Pokies and began campaigning for gambling reforms Through our Face book page we have connected with groups from all over the world who are fighting the same issues in their communities

Designed to Addict

What annoyed me the most was that these machines were consciously designed to be addictive as shown in

an interview on an ABC segment in 2010 called Mondo Thingo Len Ainsworth Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology claimed ldquoThe market place here is quite different to anywhere else in the world Where it differs is that we have the same people coming day after day week after week month after month and unless we had the means of appealing to those people then theyrsquod get very tired of their machinerdquo

So he employed clinical Psychologist Fadi Anjoul and composer Tim Williams to make the machines more enticing Tim Williams composer said ldquoIt occurred to us in a room that itrsquos almost orchestral ndash that even with all this music coming out of all the different

machines at different times at different parts of the game they all seem to make a sound togetherrdquo

Fadi Anjoul clinical psychologist stated ldquoEssentially theyrsquore electronic sounds that are designed specifically to evoke positive emotions in individuals They tap into our feelings of joy They tap into our feeling of success They reflect feelings of achievement They reflect all those things that people essentially feel good aboutrdquo

People donrsquot understand that the machines are designed to hypnotise They believe pokies are just the fun play and entertainment things the gambling industry promotes Those who do fall prey to these machines find themselves ashamed and stigmatised

Refusing to be ashamed anymore I went on to tell my story on television in the Adelaide Advertiser and in Thatrsquos Life magazine The more I spoke out the easier it became to stay on track and no matter what abuse I received it was worth it when people would ring me and say ldquoHey Irsquove got a gambling problem too what can I dordquo

The highlight for me was speaking to professionals from all over the world at the National Australian Gambling Services in Surfers Paradise although I found it a bit ironic that it was held at the casino and my room was directly opposite the door to the casino

New Beginning

In 2010 some money I had been waiting on came through and I decided to get away for a while Some of my fondest childhood

memories are of our family camping in a big old canvas tent and I love the country so I decided to go on a solo camping trip A cheap tent a Porta-Potti my Brother-In-Lawrsquos generator and I was ready to head west in my lowered Magna ndash affectionately known as Henry after my dad

Feature | 55

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 55: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

I bought an SA Parks pass (great value) and camped in some of South Australiarsquos great national parks along the way There were some pretty rough tracks in but Henry seemed to thrive on the challenge and actually ran better than ever except when I flattened his battery charging things up

One day when I had been setting up my camp for about half an hour a young couple drove in with their camper and within a few minutes they were set up and sitting down with a cuppa I mumbled under my breath as I hammered in the rest of my pegs but an idea began to form in my head It was also at that camp that a lovely couple gave me their old copy of Camps Australia which became my Bible

As I travelled further west nature had begun to work its magic and I began to relax Realising that all that was really necessary in life was water food and warmth gave me a sense of freedom I hadnrsquot felt in 15 years One night in the middle of the Nullarbor I found myself at a camp completely alone Only I wasnrsquot lonely because I seemed to have found a sense of peace within myself

Writing in my trip diary it hit me that this is what I wanted to do and more plans began to fill my head I needed to go home enrol in the professional writing course polish my

56 | Featurewriting buy a bus do it up and take off around Australia

However the negative voice in my head told me not to make plans because they never work out for me so obstinately I continued west and in a lot of ways Irsquom glad I did It was great to witness a State without pokies on every street corner and see how different people are when they are not in a gambling related trance Families played together people talked to each other there was no sense of walking among zombies and the infrastructure particularly in the smaller towns was incredible

I fell in love with Albany and conquered my fear of heights on the tree top walk at the Walpole-Nornalup National Park I felt terrified but alive

My poor little tent tried to die on me but some string tape and a socket soon sorted that out It didnrsquot hold up too well in the rain but I put a tarp over the top and managed to stay fairly dry One day a man at the camp couldnrsquot stand it any longer and insisted on giving me a lovely tent that he had stored on top of his camper It was sheer luxury it even had a little annex where I could keep my shoes I was amazed at the generosity of that man along with many of the people on the road and my faith in humanity began to be restored

I was still obstinate and I guess a little afraid of committing to my plan because I wondered what if I fail again

I continued on to Lake Indoon where I stayed for nearly a week The young bloke that looked after the place was so nice and very helpful There were hot showers flushing toilets and barbecues all for about $10 a night The morning I was due to leave for Geraldton a gorgeous sunrise greeted me and a sudden urge to get home and put my plans into action overcame me Within three days I was home and by the end of that week I had applied for the professional writing course

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 56: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Course of Action

I am now in my fourth and final year of the course and although it has been difficult at times reading about other peoplersquos travel

adventures has kept me on track

Three years ago I subscribed to the iMotorhome emagazine which has kept me inspired every fortnight and given me lots of ideas for how I want my bus Irsquom friends with many of the travellers and groups on Facebook where I have gained a lot of insights tips and tricks on the nomadic lifestyle Last month I sold all my worldly possessions and moved into my Sister and Brother-In-Laws caravan on a matersquos property (this time though it was by choice not necessity) To be self sufficient I bought a hot water service and a wild country toiletshower tent that is very strong and roomy

Feature | 57 The budget is still tight but Irsquom saving hard for a bus that I can adapt to my own specifications For relaxation I go online and look at all the wonderful motor homes and buses for sale knowing my dream is closer to becoming a reality

As part of my TAFE course I wrote a play about gambling which is now in rehearsal We have been asked to perform it as part of the National Australian Gambling Services conference which will be held in Adelaide this year My biographical self-help book is also in the final edit stage and should be ready for publication at the end of the year I have received either credits or distinctions for most of my subjects so it was nice to finally discover that I am good at something

My gambling work will of course continue and I plan to have Communities Against Pokies painted on the bus so if you see me around please come and say hi

My first destination will be Alice Springs because my Dad built the hospital and the Crocodile Motel there and it is the only one of his buildings I havenrsquot seen yet From there it will be wherever the road takes me for as long as I am able and I hope to meet as many of you as I can along the way Safe and happy travels everyone

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 57: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Across The StreetPostcards from Malcolm Streetrsquos Canadian rental relocationhellip

On his recent holiday across the eastern provinces of Canada our roadtest editor Malcolm came across some memorable and unusual RVs Herersquos a selection you wonrsquot see in Australia but still make interesting viewing

We tend to think of North American RVs as being very large ndash think Meet The Fockers ndash but there are many smaller rigs which shows the diversity of the market Malcolm says he particularly likes some of the smaller van conversions based on Dodge Ford E-Series and GMC products but which still come with thumping-great V8s

58 | Travel Postcards

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 58: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Not all smaller rigs are of US origin though Mercedes Benz is starting to make inroads with the Sprinter in the van conversion and coachbuilt markets on the back of the brandrsquos reputation and the modelrsquos fuel efficiency Meanwhile Chrysler is marketing the Fiat Ducato as the Dodge Ram ProMaster After initially only offering a 35 L V6 petrol engine theyrsquove now introduced the 30 L turbo-diesel as an option Such progress Particularly interesting to Malcolm was a Sprinter van with a slide-out while an oddity was a GMC van with a pop-top which also had an air conditioner fitted externally to the rear door

Travel | 59

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 59: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

ldquoUndoubtedly of interest to our fearless Publisher are the many variants of Volkswagen Kombi old and new that are to be seenrdquo Malcolm quipped Finally right out of the box was his much loved London Routemaster double-decker bus which he saw in Montreal It was still right-hand drive but the characteristic open rear platform had been swapped to the right hand side Quite a good conversion too he said

60 | Travel

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 60: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Malcolmrsquos also promised a full account of his week-long rental relocation from Halifax to Toronto and a quick review of the rental motorhome which wersquoll include in an upcoming issue Hersquoll also provide a breakdown of costs so you can see if a Canadian rental relocation could be an affordable holiday option for the future At least the Australia and Canadian dollars are sliding together against the Greenback making the land of the maple syrup-covered pancake a more affordable North American holiday destination

Travel | 61

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 61: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

By Emily Barker

62 | Mobile Tech

Be beach safe this summer with Surf Life Saving Australia

By Emily Barker

Beachsafe

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 62: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

The iconic red and yellow flags of Surf Lifesaving Australia represent among other things the profound love

Australians have for their beaches We are drawn to the coastline unlike anywhere else and the multitude of activities we undertake while there is truly astounding

Originating as the first organisation of its kind in the world Surf Lifesaving Australia was born in 1907 at Bondi Beach Sydney The year The Bondi Surf Bathers Lifesaving Club formed the famous Australian Weary Dunlop was born the first telephone call between Sydney and Melbourne was made and the New South Wales Rugby Football League was established officially introducing rugby league into Australia Australia was finding her feet and Australians were finding the beach particularly since it was now legal to swim in the ocean during the day

Since then much has changed except our relationship with the coast Surf Lifesaving Australia too has evolved with the times Now

in this age of instant information technology can prove incredibly handy when planning your next beachside adventure safely

Australian For Life

Surf Life Saving has always been lsquoAustralian for lifersquo and its quite fitting that its app is an all-encompassing

feast of information There are nearly 12000 beaches punctuating our island continent and incredibly they are all listed within this app More importantly the information is accurate relevant and extensive The level of detail in each listing is astoundingly impressive Whether itrsquos a 20 metre coral cove inaccessible by road on an isolated stretch of Cape York or 125 km of internationally famed coastline topographical features both on-and-off shore are discussed in detail

Each listing is broken into a series of subheadings Beach Swimming Surfing Fishing General and Parking while each category contains relevant information for

Mobile Tech | 63

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 63: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

quick reference and ease of use In addition to this basic overview the app indicates if the beach is patrolled and if relevant provides patrol schedules recent rescue or intervention statistics and identifies any potential hazards such as rips sharks jellyfish crocodiles etc Detailed weather conditions including the current air and water temperatures wind direction and strength a swell forecast graph including height and direction a daily UV guide and the local tide times are also presented

Feature Rich

Feature-wise this app is filled with useful tools Enabling GPS location services on your device allows the app to locate

beaches nearby and indicates the distance to them Alternatively you can search manually by town city region or individual beach name Search results can also be saved as lsquofavouritersquo beaches for quick retrieval

In addition to comprehensive real-time information this app contains a wealth of additional helpful information particularly important for those new to an area The lsquoSurf Edrsquo tab is packed full of genuinely useful information on a range of different topics including first aid surf skills flags and signage understanding (and surviving) rip currents avoiding marine stingers and other creatures even tips on the best ways to enjoy certain areas in terms of fishing kayaking surfing or simply strolling

The core of this app is safety Beaches can be dangerous places but with the right information and awareness they can simply be the wondrous places wersquove been longing to visit

Surf Lifesaving Australia has both volunteer lifesavers and employed professional lifeguards and is a dynamic organisation dedicated to the

education and safety of all beachgoers This app with all of its features is completely free and at a tidy 371 MB is a useful addition to any travellerrsquos phone or device

Fast FactsPlatform iOS amp Android Size 371 MBCost Free

64 | Mobile Tech

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 64: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Advertisers index | 65

AirBag Man 24

Albury Wodonga RV World 21

Australian Motor Homes 10

Avida 7

Battery Traders Super Store 24

Bony Mountain Folk Festival 24

Caravan amp Motorhome Covers 25

Duvalay 25

eBook Traveller 21

e-Twow Electric Scooters 25

Horizon Motorhomes 2

iMotorhome 17

iTech World 24

Nomadic Solutions 25

Northcoach Equipment 17

Outback Travel Australia 22

Ozcape Campers 25

Paradise Motor Homes 8

Parkland RV Centre 24

Reverse Alert 15

Robertrsquos RV World 24

RV Specialists 24

Southern Spirit Campervans 25

Skytracks 25

Taronga Western Plains Zoo 24

Tiffin Motorhomes 25

Trakka 41

Webasto 19

Wellington Shire 24

Winnebago 4

Winjana RV 25

Wirraway Motor Homes 20

Advertisers Index

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue

Page 65: iMotorhome eMagazine Issue 79 - 05 Sep 2015 2

Sep 11-13

Penrith Caravan Camping amp Holiday Expo

Penrith PanthersMulgoa Road Penrith NSWbull Open 900-500 daily

(400 Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $15bull Seniors $10bull Kids U16 free with adult

Sep 25-27

Central Coast 4WD Caravan Camping amp Boat Show

Mingara Recreation ClubMingara Drive Tumbi Umbi NSW 2261 bull Open 1000-400 dailybull Parking Freebull Adults $10 Fri$12 Satbull Seniors $8 Fri$10 Satbull Kids 5-16 $5 Fri$6 Sat

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general

Drop us a line at infoimotorhomecomau and wersquoll happily promote it in this calendar

Plans are afoot to bring you a Sunliner on something different a Renault Master cab-chassis Renault has been a fringe player in

the Antipodean motorhome market and it will be interesting to hear what Malcolm thinks compared to the Big Two ndash Fiat and Mercedes

Adventurers Elizabeth and Helmut Mueller are back and share a fascinating story on the South Australian ghost town of Farina which is slowly rising from its ruins Wersquoll review the book Australian Bus and Coach Driversrsquo Guide by John Duffy to see if itrsquos of value to motorhomers in general and those with big rigs in particular plus take a look at gearbox type update Project Polly and more

Issue 80 ndash can you believe it ndash will be out on Saturday 19 September Until then please join our more than 28000 Facebook

Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai Facebook ldquof rdquo Logo RGB ai

Friends and Twitter followers and share laughs fun and more

Renault lsquoello

Click for Google Maps

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website Visit Website

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Oct 08-11

2015 Melbourne Leisurefest

Sandown RacecoursePrincess Hwy Springvale Vic 3171 bull Open 1000-500 daily (4 pm

Sunday)bull Parking Freebull Adults $16 or $14 onlinebull Seniors $12 or $10 onlinebull Kids Not listed

11-13SEP

25-27SEP

08-11OCT

Click for Google Maps

Visit Website

66 | next issue