Local knowledge to me is the key to finding those special camp sights that we all bought BT’s for. Would it be possible to set up another section in the owners
forum where volunteer members could name their home area, example ours would be the Goulburn Valley Vic. So the site would not get too involved, we could then list places we have special knowledge of , example we spent 30 years of our working lives in the Riverland SA, followed by camp sites we have recently visited that are accessible towing a BT. Recently we went to the Howqua Hills Historic Area near Mt Buller, the 15klms in is gravel, would be slippery when raining ,steep and narrow in spots and took us more than 30 minutes to negotiate. Listed as unsuitable for caravans in the “Camping in Australia” book, but two wheel drive cars take small vans in, and horse floats are regulars, as two of the seven free camping areas along the banks of the Howqua River are equipped with horse yards, so that people can get the” Man from Snowy River” feeling. (A long way to bring a horse from Qld Steve.) For the rest of us the area is a great base from which to travel the 4x4 tracks, experience that part of the Alpine National Park and some of the historic huts of the mountain cattle men. This to me is far too much detail to put on every participating members spot on the
forum. Our recently visited camp sites should just be a list. Howqua Hills Historic Area near Mt Buller, Cathedral Range State Park near Alexandra, Murrindindi Scenic Reserve, near Yea, Mt Alexander near Bendigo. We have very little experience on the web, but if the owners
forum is secure enough to just use mobile phone numbers it would be the easiest way to communicate between “The Local” for up to date camping information, and the visiting members.
In these days of litigation, National Park authorities and the compilers of camping guides, we believe, are becoming more conservative, and it’s up to us, the members, to help our selves.
We assume that changing the web site would involve some cost and from the notes from the President’s report 22/09/05, the
BOG is in need of extra funds, the rasing of which, so far as we under stand, has largely been left to Bob.
About 16 year ago when we lived on the banks of the Murray, I was president of The River Murray Boat Owners Association. A group of independent house & river boat owners with a desire retain the right and privilege of tying up for the night without been hassled by rules regulations and fees thought up by bureaucrats trying to justify their existence and expand their little empires, which is similar in many ways to the current situation with our vans. Bob’s request was for all of us to be involved in seeking extra sponsorship and fund raising.
From past experience, I believe, the only way to get all the members to contribute to fund rasing is to rase the membership fees. By having a “Local Knowledge” site in the Owners
Forum, all members, all over “Aus.“ would have the opportunity of contributing and benefiting from it. If that meant doubling the members fee to make the
BOG financially secure, it would only take a couple free camp sites a year with “Local Knowledge” for an individual member to be financially in front and probably find some nice camps in the process.
Regards
David & Sue
