Aussie Gypsies

28/01/2020

Hi all - As you know our travels came to an end a while ago. I have kept the page open (even though I don't tend to post) as a log of our trip and the wonderful memories we made. It seems like a lifetime ago but when I do visit the page all the good times come flooding back.

I also hope that others get something out of the page in terms of places they want to visit or pictures of our beautiful country they like. I have found the last few months with stories and vision of so much destruction in our country and loss of life and our precious wildlife heartbreaking 💔

That heartbreak (mixed with anger) and my lifelong interest in politics have led me to start another venture. Please head over to my new page and if its your cup of tea please give me a like. I will be sharing political content of the day, with my own perspective on things. I warn you that sarcasm will likely reign supreme and I am certainly not backward in coming forward with my opinion. No worries if your political views and mine don't align, I'm always happy to have a mature and respectful discussion.

https://www.facebook.com/auspollielagger/

Sharing information on government policy and decision making with an aim to improve transparency and

11/02/2018

So our life on the road may be over and the legal battles over our caravan an almost distant memory, but the adventure continues with hubby setting up his new business!

The initial plans started percolating on our travels as he thought about ways to bring music lessons to more families, especially those who are remote or travelling. He is providing traditional lessons as well, while he keenly develops his digitial content.

Please check out his page and some of the free content he has already provided. I'm sure he would also appreciate your likes and shares :)

https://www.facebook.com/Cosmusicmatters-2015133728702695/?ref=br_tf

Cosmusicmatters offers music tuition in guitar, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet and music theory for

02/01/2017

Some of you will be aware of the issues we have had with our caravan. This has led to us returning to the Gold Coast and giving up on our travel plans whilst we seek a refund through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribubal (VCAT).

For those of you that dont know the history of our caravan we purchased a Scenic Caravan from Spaceland in Victoria in May 2015. We
discovered a smaller payload than promised when we collected the van and then within 6 weeks other problems began to become apparent that included:

1. Water pooling in the roof and then leaking through light fittings and ceiling joins whenever we moved. This has resulted in damage to the internal lining and lights. We do not know what damage may have been caused to the timber frame without removal of the lining and roof.

2. The safety chains and coupling are only rated to 3500 kg, whereas the ATM of the van is 3680 kg. We have since been told that had we had an accident in the caravan we would not have been covered by insurance because of this.

3. The dryer pumps hot air into the roof cavity rather than out of the caravan.

3. The two way fridge was only connected to the batteries and would not run off 240v power.

3. The water tanks leak.

4. The gas hot water system does not work without power.

5. Water leaked through the windows at the back of the caravan onto the bunk beds during heavy rain in Mackay.

6. Other minor issues such as the concertina doors coming apart, the kitchen bench top lifting (they did provide a replacement for this but it was cut too small) and some of the windows not closing properly.

After months of calling and sending emails and not getting any response we issued Spaceland with a notice of rejection under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (the Act) and asked for a full refund. Spaceland advised us to drive the caravan back to Melbourne from Mackay so that they could look at it. They would not authorise anyone in Qld to look at it. This was despite us making them aware of the underrated safety chains and coupling.

In December 2015 we had an expert report done on the van at our cost. The report concluded that the caravan was not compliant with VSB-1, was unsafe and was not fit for purpose. The engineer advised us that it was not safe to tow the caravan. We provided this report to Spaceland but did not receive a response. On 23 December 2015 we submitted an application with VCAT.

We could not find any work in Mackay. After much consideration we decided to buy tents in order to continue travelling and put the caravan into storage. It has now been in storage for 10 months at our expense.

We continued to travel with the tents but this proved too difficult when we got to Darwin. The heat in a tent was bad enough but we were informed we could not stay long term in any caravan park in a tent. With our finances depleted from being stuck in Mackay for months and having to pay for the report and VCAT fee, plus all the additional gear we had to buy, we rented a house in Darwin and got jobs.

This was to be short term but when another work opportunity arose on the Gold Coast, and with no end in sight with the caravan, we decided we could not afford to wait on Spaceland to provide us with the refund.

So here we are. We had planned to live and work on the road indefinitely. Our savings are all but gone. We were home schooling my son and this was going well. His last report saw him get all As and Bs. This has been very disruptive for him.

After 12 months we still do not have a final hearing date. We have a compulsory conference in the first week of February for the purposes of attempting to negotiate an outcome. After that a final hearing SHOULD be set.

We have had challenges with VCAT and feel we will have no choice but to retain a lawyer for the final hearing. I have just paid for and received audio from two of the Directions Hearings and will be lodging a complaint on the basis of these and decisions that have been made.

We have discovered through our struggles that many others are in the same or a similar position. I truly feel that this industry requires a comprehensive review. Self-regulation is not working and having to fight for months or years for entitlements under the Act is just not right.

We will continue to fight and I encourage those with issues like ours to do the same. It's not easy, it costs money and causes stress but what is the alternative? The purpose of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) was to protect consumers. The more people that fight the more likely it will be that the ACL will live up to that!

18/11/2016

Last day of our mini trip ... Love the waterfalls

17/11/2016

Chris, the owner of the Butterfly House, was described to us as crazy ... You be the judge!

17/11/2016

Another clip at the top of gunlom waterfall

17/11/2016

Dinner time ... Jazzie is buggered!

17/11/2016

We didn't waste any time once we got to Litchfield this afternoon ... saw the Magnetic Termite Mounds, had a swim at Buley Rockhole and stood in awe of Florence Falls. This place kicks butt!!!

16/11/2016

The pool at the top of the Gunlom waterfall.Quite a challenging climb.

16/11/2016

Love this pool!!! Getting an early game of Marco Polo in before we head to Litchfield

16/11/2016

Kakadu Day 3 - Gunlom Falls and plunge pool. Helmut and Jet did the incredibly tough climb to the top. Jazzie and I got a third of the way and had to turn back and wait for them in the plunge pool

16/11/2016

We did a drive to Maguk yesterday and going to check out Gunlom today ... Tough on the netball knees but great scenery

15/11/2016

Jazzie loves flowers and lilly pads

15/11/2016

Kakadu. Day 2 - Fantastic cruise to finish off the day

14/11/2016

Kakadu Day 1 - Ubirr Rock Art

14/11/2016

This graphite and charcoal drawing was done of my daughter from a photo.If anyone is interested in getting a portrait drawn just send Helmut a message on 0419 419 312

14/11/2016

29/10/2016

Only in Darwin!

23/10/2016

A quick update on our caravan issues ...

With our van in storage in Mackay we had to give up on travel when we got to Darwin. Our finances and stress levels have taken a beating. So we have had to put all travel on hold in order to build the bank balance back up. Not sure how long it will take to get the stress level under control!

The problems with the van have been going for 16 months and its been 10 months since we lodged with the Tribunal. We have a negotiation conference next month before going to a final hearing. We are extremely disappointed in the manufacturer and the system that has allowed them to get away with this.

I know of many others in similar positions so will be doing what I can to shine the spotlight on this industry. Hopefully change is coming!!!

30/07/2016

Family day out

29/07/2016

29/07/2016

After two years of a very overpriced mobile internet account of 8 Gb per month we have just connected to the NBN for our stay in Darwin. Amazing how much this excites me!!!

17/07/2016

A fun day in the sun with great friends

17/07/2016

Made it to Mindil

15/07/2016

Jet did a free Mandala stone painting workshop at Palmerston Library today ... photo (and attendance at the workshop) courtesy of fabulous Dana Hicks!

06/07/2016

❤️

06/07/2016

01/07/2016

Happy Territory Day! Check out these big boys!!!