Caravan and camping holidays giving families more bang for their buck

For immediate release:

More Australian families than ever before are turning to caravanning and camping as the best and most affordable holiday option as the gap between the cost of staying at a caravan park  versus other styles of accommodation continues to widen.

With the current average cost for a family of four just $40 per night for a campsite, it’s little wonder that families are getting back to the great outdoors and choosing caravanning and camping as the most affordable holiday option.

Recent figures released  show that caravan and campervan registrations have risen 15% over the last five years, and with camping now costing families as much as 84% less than the average hotel accommodation this figure is expected to continue to climb.

“Certainly the indications are that families are finding it tough and are looking for less expensive holiday options,” said Caravanning Queensland Operations Manager Jason Plant.
“The stress of saving up for a holiday and having to factor in all of the additional entertainment expenses can cause many families to abandon plans completely. Holidaying at a caravan park can cost less than $100 a day inclusive of food and entertainment and gives families a chance to take time out without the stress of wondering how they are going to foot the bill at the end.”

Caravanning Queensland runs the state’s official industry event, the annual Queensland Caravan, Camping and Touring Holiday Show. Now in its 46th year Mr Plant expects attendance numbers to again be strong, with the majority of stands already booked out by exhibitors, as more families turn to caravans and camping as the more economical holiday option.

“Caravanning and camping has become much more popular in recent years with young families. The largest demographic sector for caravanning and camping  is by far the 30-54 year olds , because it is not only extremely affordable, but is also quite easy these days to enjoy the creature comforts of home such as comfortable beds, hot showers, and modern cooking equipment while you camp,” he said.

Natasha McIntyre, mother of two and a resident of Heathwood in Queensland, knows only too well the costs of holidaying with a young family. She has fond memories of camping as a child, and now also prefers camping as a cost effective way to holiday with her family and keep her budget in check.

“These holidays are so cost effective for us as family,” says Mrs McIntyre. “Even when I factor in accommodation costs, food for the week, fuel and anything else that might come up, the total cost of the holiday would never exceed $1,000, which is a fraction of the cost of taking the whole family to stay elsewhere for the week.”

Mr Plant explains there are caravanning and camping options for all styles and budgets,  so the family can easily find a way to bond away from work, traffic and school pressures without feeling like they are ‘roughing it’.

While requiring an initial investment in camping gear, a caravan or a camper trailer, Mr Plant said the long-term returns provide families with much greater value than taking a resort holiday each year.  

“For a family of four on a budget, they could purchase new camping gear for as little as $600, then factor in $400 or less for campground fees for a week, food, gas, and ice and they’ve got a great vacation without burning a hole in the hip pocket,” he explained.

“Once the equipment has been acquired, each subsequent holiday will be even more budget friendly and over the space of year the savings are well into the thousands while the family has enjoyed a real escape from the norm.”

Mrs McIntyre agrees, saying the low cost to set a family up with camping equipment would surprise most people.
“We paid $300 for our 10-man tent about 10 years ago, and even though it has been used countless times over the years it is still fine- once you’ve got it, it lasts a really long time,” she says.

The Queensland Caravan, Camping and Touring Holiday Show will be held at the Brisbane Showgrounds in June 2014 and will provide an opportunity for families to find out more information about caravanning, camping, what to do, where to go and the latest in products and equipment. To find out more please visit www.caravanqld.com.au

Media enquiries, please contact Kate Shuttleworth on 0418 723 841 or 07 3250 9400 or respond to this email.

About Caravanning Queensland    
Caravanning Queensland is the peak industry body for caravan dealers, manufacturers, camping suppliers, service providers and caravan park operators through two related associations. These are the Caravan Trade & Industries Association of Queensland and the Caravan Parks Association of Queensland Inc.

The Queensland Caravan, Camping and Touring Holiday Show is the official industry event for Queensland, and has been running for 46 years. It attracts over 300 exhibitors and up to 70,000 visitors each year. Featuring the latest products and services the caravanning and camping industry has to offer, including information on tourism and holiday destinations all around Australia, this year’s event will be on June 4-10 at the Brisbane Showgrounds.

Insurer embraces advances in beauty treatments but urges Australians to approach them with caution

Australians no longer need to pay a fortune for some plastic surgery procedures, with qualified and experienced beauticians today able to perform complex cosmetic treatments such as laser hair removal and chemical peels at a fraction of the cost.

However, while these advancements are helping Australians to stay young and beautiful for longer, Queensland insurance broker Parmia Insurance warns they also present higher risks for both therapists and their clients.

Responding to the latest blood doping beauty trend, where a person’s blood is removed, infused with vitamins and then put back in, Director of Parmia Danny Gumm states these procedures have a far greater chance of resulting in injury if performed by inexperienced or unqualified therapists.

“I’m not saying don’t try them or perform them,” he said. “I just urge both parties to make sure they’ve done their research and to ensure that they’re properly qualified and experienced in the procedure being performed. It is the only way to minimise the possibility of something going wrong.”

Mr Gumm continues stating that treatments such as beauty blood doping, which has been made popular by celebrities such as Katy Perry and Madonna, require extensive training and should never be offered at a standard beauty salon.

“I would say that Australians need to be wary if their local salon is offering blood doping without any sign that they’ve undergone additional training and have appropriate experience,” he said. “They need to be incredibly diligent in their research and make sure they’ve had a comprehensive consultation with the therapist before having the treatment.”

The firm, which has over 30 years of experience in developing insurance and risk management policies for the beauty industry, says the onus is on the client to check that the salon they’re visiting has the proper credentials.

“Australians need to thoroughly check their salon’s qualifications before undergoing any procedure but particularly so if it requires needles, lasers or other such medical equipment because the risks of injury are far higher,” Mr Gumm said. “You could suffer poisoning or permanent scarring should you undergo a procedure at an unqualified salon.”

While clients are at greater risk of injury from advances in beauty therapy, so too are the professionals performing the procedures, with Mr Gumm stating their livelihoods could be ruined should something go wrong.

“If permanent injury is caused as a result of these new procedures then beauty therapists without comprehensive cover could find themselves paying millions of dollars in damages,” he explained, “and if they’re a small, independent salon then this could result in a loss that they’re unable to recover from.”

Mr Gumm continues stating that therapists considering offering complex beauty treatments should ensure they have tailored protection first.

“Therapists looking to perform these procedures need to work together with insurers to develop a risk analysis that identifies their concerns,” he said. “They can’t just purchase an ‘off-the-shelf’ package because it will never address their individual requirements and will most likely leave them exposed to significant risks.”

Established in Queensland in 2002, Parmia has quickly made a name for itself through its work in the Australian beauty industry and for its unique approach to developing policies, with each package carefully tailored to suit its clients’ needs.

The firm is award winning, with Mr Gumm named the National Insurance Broker Association’s 2013 Broker of the Year. For more information, please visit www.parmiainsurance.com.au.

Media Enquiries: Suzanne Ross at Graymedia on 07 3250 9406, 0488 441 589 or email s.ross@graymedia.com.au.

Pharmacy brand helps Australians to arm themselves against the flu

Looking to ensure more Australians receive the influenza vaccine in time for the winter flu season, community pharmacy brand Discount Drug Stores is holding over 100 flu vaccination clinics in the majority of its stores from March through to May.

Following the pharmacy brand’s 2013 campaign, which helped to protect thousands of Australians against influenza, Discount Drug Stores is hoping to encourage more Australians to arm themselves against the serious virus.

Professional Services Manager at Discount Drug Stores, Casey Clark states the clinics are specifically designed for busy, working Australians who are too time poor to get to the GP for a vaccination against the flu.

“Due to time or the belief that they won’t come down with the illness, they may not be as proactive about protecting themselves against influenza as they should be,” she said. “We understand that people are often busy, which is why we’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for Australians to protect themselves against the flu season.

“The vaccination consultation only takes 5 minutes,” Ms Clark continued. “It doesn’t require a prescription and most of our stores are conveniently located meaning people can quickly visit us on their lunch break or between errands to get immunised.”

According to the Australian Government’s Department of Health, 12% of influenza cases in 2013 resulted in sufferers having to be admitted to hospital.

Known to strike down healthy Australians, leaving them bed ridden for weeks, Ms Clark hopes more Australians will take preventative action against the flu that’s symptoms include severe exhaustion, body aches and nausea.

“It only requires about twenty minutes of your day, compared to a fortnight of being incapacitated if you come down with the virus,” she said. “Ultimately, it’s about prioritising your health so that you or your loved ones don’t get struck down by preventable illnesses like the flu.”

Ms Clark continues stating it is just as important for young adults to get vaccinated as it is for children and the elderly as it ensures they’re not putting their loved ones at risk.

“The biggest issue is that people in this group forget that they could transfer it to a loved one who can suffer severely,” she explained. “The influenza virus is very contagious and can easily be spread to co-workers, family and friends. Getting vaccinated is the best way to ensure that you’re not only protecting your health but those of your family and friends as well.”

The flu vaccination campaign is just one of many services Discount Drug Stores provides to its customers, with the brand also offering medication management, and annual hearing and bone density testing clinics to name but a few.

Discount Drug Stores flu vaccination clinics will run from March to May. All vaccinations will be administered by a qualified immunisation nurse and require patients to undergo a 5 minute consultation, followed by a 15 minute observation period. Bookings are essential. For more information, please visit www.discountdrugstores.com.au.

Media Enquiries: Suzanne Ross at Graymedia on 07 3250 9406, 0488 441 589 or email s.ross@graymedia.com.au.