Click here to view full ACA segment

New Age Caravans to the rescue

RVM Australia member New Age Caravans has shown itself to be a champion of our industry with a remarkable act of generosity prompted by a recent story on A Current Affair.

A Current Affair reported that two Queensland couples had been stranded by a caravan broker after they paid for their two vans but the broker had not passed on the money to the manufacturer. Within days of the story going to air, Joe and Gabby Barrasso from New Age stepped in to lend them two vans so they could have their holiday.

Better still, each couple will be given an 18 foot New Age Oz Classic after they return. The 18 footer is the latest addition to the Oz Classic range and delivers the style and comfort of its bigger brothers in a lighter, more compact model.

Gabby said it was "gut wrenching" to watch people save their entire lives to go and live their dream, only for it to be pulled from them. But thanks to the New Age team, their dream now lives on.

The story made it clear that the villain of the piece was just one individual, while New Age ensured our industry was shown in an outstandingly good light. .

Jurgens Australia's Terry Steel is our new representative on the  CRVA Board.

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RVM Australia appointment to the board of CRVA

I'm very pleased to announce that RVM Australia's new representative on the CRVA Board is Jurgens Australia managing director and RVM Australia board director Terry Steel.

Terry's appointment was endorsed by the RVM Australia board at its meeting on 6 December 2012.

Having established Jurgens five years ago with two business partners, Terry is preparing to move the company into new premises next month to cope with massive growth.

Terry sees a bright future for Jurgens, the RV manufacturing sector as a whole and for the wider RV and camping sector too. With a previous background in both manufacturing and sales management, his valuable commercial skills are not only a great asset to the RVM Australia and CRVA Boards alike; they also complement his optimism for all aspects of the industry.

Click here to view the  implementation plan for  RVM Australia's  Accreditation Program.

A busy year in 2013

The first quarter of 2013 will bring a busy schedule of rolling out the new RVM Australia Accreditation Program to the entire industry and media in readiness for its implementation in April.

In February and March we will take to the road to inform members what we have in mind. The roadshow will explain all the key aspects of the Accreditation Program and how it will benefit members both individually and collectively. Once it is implemented, and our new RVM Australia badge is appearing on members' products, we will move on to telling RV buyers about the new program and how it will drive even higher quality and safety standards. The new RVM Australia badge will become - and be heavily promoted as - the new symbol of compliance and quality on Australian-built RVs.

Late in March we will have the official launch of the Accreditation Program, with high level political involvement as well as key stakeholders from our own and related industries. This will also be the formal media launch, so in short order the RV community will begin to know about our new badge, our new Accreditation Program, and the value they both represent to everyone shopping for a new Australian-built RV.

Strategic Planning Group (SAG) reminder

Last week members would have received an email invitation to join RVM Australia's Strategic Advisory Group (SAG). Pleasingly the response to this new initiative has been very encouraging and we have commenced compiling a list of members who we can call upon from time-to-time to provide expert input to our submissions, policy positions and consultations with government and other industry stakeholders.

Applications for membership of the SAG will remain open until Tuesday 15 January 2013 and any members wishing to sign-up can do so by clicking here.

   

David Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

Gas regulation update: AS/NZS 5601.1 & 5601.2

Regulation Amendment: AS/NZS 3000:2007/Amdt 2:2012 (Current) Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand wiring rules)

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Jacks

Throughout November and December it has been brought to our attention by consumers that not all caravans are being supplied with a caravan jack. 

Jacks are a requirement of RVM Australia under the code of practice.

We wish to remind all manufacturers that the supplying of a jack is a RVM Australia requirement and that the jack and the fittings must comply with AS/NZS 2693:2007 which can be purchased here.

Read more>

Vehicle completion status for an RVM Australia audit

There seems to be some confusion on the vehicle completion status for an audit to be undertaken. To clear this matter up, as per the RVM Australia checklist, all the necessary items and documentation must be completed and available. In essence the van must have been weighed, as all OEM supplied components must be fitted for a van to be weighed.

Note: For a van to be weighed it must be fitted with all OEM supplied equipment. This includes; mattresses, gas bottles, jacks and any item that the OEM supplies to either the dealer or customer. 

Read more>

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Technical article requests

RVM Australia would like to invite its members to submit technical articles for the monthly newsletters. If there is a certain item you think needs to be brought to the member network or something you would like to be elaborated on, please contact us.

Simply contact us by email or tel: 03-9815 2015.

If you missed any of our monthly newsletters, you can download previous issues here.

December 2012

October 2012

August 2012

July 2012

June 2012

Channel 7's Better Homes & Gardens promotion

Throughout October Channel Seven's Better Homes and Gardens promoted CRVA's latest exciting promotion, which saw one lucky viewer win a Piazza Caravan package from Royal Flair Caravans worth over $75,000 with 12 months insurance from CIL Insurance. Read more>

Collection of sales and registration data

CRVA, with the assistance of BDO, has been collecting sales and registration data. This information has now been received from all State Transport Authorities and collated. Read more>

Economic & Employment impact of RV manufacturing in Australia

NEM Australiasia have now been commissioned to undertake a study on the Economic and Employment Benefit of the Australian RV manufacturing sector. Read more>