I am a long time member of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia. It’s a great club with a great future and many member benefits. Here is the “lowdown” on the club.
The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia Limited (CMCA) has grown in 20 years to become the nation’s largest recreational vehicle club.
Membership of the Club at the beginning of July 2006 was 46,107 Members with an average of over 700 Members now joining each month. Membership includes enthusiasts not only in Australia but also overseas in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas and other countries.
However, notwithstanding this phenomenal growth rate, the Club continues to foster a very close ‘family’ relationship which is exemplified by its famous motto, “Laugh More – Live Longer”. This sense of belonging extends throughout the nation where the Club’s network of Chapters provides a solid support base for Members on the move and a strong social framework for those in the same region.
The CMCA was founded in April 1986 by Don and Erica Whitworth, of Tweed Heads, who continue to take a keen interest in its activities and progress. The Club became an Incorporated Association in April 1988 but its rapid growth threatened to place it outside the guidelines which govern such bodies. In order to allow the Club to continue expanding – not only in the number of new Memberships, but also into other fields which could involve trading – the proposition was put to Members for the CMCA to become a Company Limited by Guarantee. Members at the Annual General Meeting held during the National Rally in Alice Springs in October 2000 voted overwhelmingly in favour of this proposal.
Having moved forward to become the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia Limited, the next big step was to purchase a block of land close to the centre of Newcastle, NSW, where the construction of a purpose-designed National Headquarters, costing around $500,000, commenced on February 19, 2001. The building, which was wholly-funded from Club resources, was completed in June 2001 and officially opened by the CMCA Founders, Don and Erica Whitworth, on February 9, 2002.
The popularity of the Club is due to many factors:
Family Atmosphere
The ethos of the Club is particularly evident in the fun, friendship and fellowship between Members. No matter what a Member’s problem might be, there always seems to be another Member nearby who is willing to offer assistance – be it a mechanical breakdown, a travelling companion, the need to source an obscure spare part or advice on road conditions. A letter to the Club’s magazine or a telephone call to National Headquarters will quickly see a Member steered in the right direction.
The Wanderer
The Club has its own monthly magazine, The Wanderer, which is an A4, full-gloss publication that is arguably the world’s finest publication of its type. It is crammed full of information and allows Members to keep in touch with each other and pass on tips and information.
Club Insurance Program
The Club’s exclusive Insurance Scheme is administered in Melbourne by the Club’s Insurance Broker, Ken Tame & Associates Pty Ltd. Underwritten by Lumley General Insurance, the scheme is only available to financial Members of the CMCA.
Club Chapters
To increase opportunities to meet and socialise, Members have formed local Chapters throughout Australia. Club Members may attend any Chapter activity and, if they wish, can elect to support a particular Chapter.
At the beginning of July 2006, there were 81 Chapters representing every State, A.C.T. and Northern Territory. Most Chapters get together on a regular basis and their meeting dates, plus chapter contacts and activities, are published in The Wanderer and on the Club’s web site.
Special Interest Groups (SIG’s)
Within the Club there are groups of CMCA Members sharing a like minded non-competitive interest. Some examples are: - The Solos, Radio Network, Off-road Network, The Big Rigs Clan and National Fifth Wheelers.
Club Rallies
The Club conducts two major rallies each year, the first in April/May (Anniversary Rally to celebrate the anniversary of the Club’s formation) and the second in September/October (National Rally to conduct the Annual General Meeting and take reports on activities and from committees).
Both rallies have special interest activities including training seminars, craft lessons, major entertainment, Chapter skit nights, disc bowls competitions and trade exhibits including vehicles, motorhome accessories and services. The rallies are rotated between the States, A.C.T. and Northern Territory.
As an indication of their growing popularity, the Club’s Anniversary and National Rallies now attract from 700 to 1,400-plus vehicles.
Casino Motorhome Village
The first of its kind in Australia, this motorhome village development provides short term stays at a reasonable price, sites for long term leasing, and will ultimately include a retirement village. Situated on the site of the Casino Airport, the 115 hectare site includes a modern terminal building which has been extended to provide a comfortable clubhouse and other facilities.
Even though the CMCA is now a minority shareholder in the project, it has been proud to be a part of the conceptualization stage and is excited to watch the development as it unfolds.
The village will provide facilities and amenities to Club Members that will be unique among Australia’s recreational vehicle clubs and groups.
Club Policies
The CMCA has strict Club policies that encourage Members to behave in a responsible manner. These policies are in place for the benefit of Members and the locations that Members will be traveling in.
CMCA Recreational Vehicle Self-Containment Scheme
In April 2005 CMCA launched a Vehicle Self- Containment Certification Scheme during its 19th Anniversary Rally in Horsham Vic. The scheme is a huge success and currently has in excess of 160 certified inspectors.
The Scheme comprises a specification for self- contained vehicles, a procedure for training and authorizing inspectors, a process for certifying conforming vehicles and a commitment to ensure that the occupants behave in a responsible way. The certification is for a maximum time the vehicle can remain fully self- contained depending on the number of occupants.
It is the intention of the CMCA to ensure the integrity of this scheme so that authorities can be assured that allowing certified vehicles to use their sites will not cause any degradation of the area or any avoidable impact on the environment.
Summary
To obtain the best economic benefit from these ‘New Age’ self-contained tourists, they must first be encouraged to stop and enjoy what they see. They then stay, spend and go on to tell others.
The typical scenario of the tourist in a hire-car is that he or she may stay overnight, have a meal and be gone the following day. The average motorhoming tourist usually spends a much longer period each year ‘on the road’ and, therefore, instead of purchasing holiday needs prior to leaving, tends to continually spend if and when the need arises along the route.