Australian caravan industry celebrates outstanding contribution at National Conference

Eric Hayman Award for Excellence winner Peter Buttigieg with Ron Chapman.

More than 500 delegates were in attendance for a night of celebrating outstanding contribution to the caravan industry at the Caravan Industry Association of Australia’s (CIAA) 2021 National Conference. The event took place at the Royal Pines on the Gold Coast on 6 May, and no less than seven prestigious awards were handed out to deserving recipients. 

The Eric Hayman Award for Excellence for 2020 was given to Peter Buttigieg, recognising his extreme hard work and positive influence on the industry for a number of years. 

The Australian caravan park industry has much to thank Peter for because at a time when no one wanted to embrace computers or software and maintained their love affair with “the book”, he battled on. He was a visionary for his time and proved that informed decisions and office efficiencies could not be made properly without access to data.

Between 2003 and today, RMS has established offices in the UK, North America, China, India and Singapore. Starting as a one office business, 7-8 employees and a handful of customers, they now employ over 200 who maintain 6,000 clients in 30 countries.

Geoff Olholm and his wife Jenny.

Due to the National Conference not happening last year because of COVID-19 lockdowns, the 2019 Eric Hayman Award for Excellence was also delivered at this year’s event. The winner was Geoff Olholm, recognised for 30 years of innovation with Cairns Coconut Caravan Village and for being at the forefront of the battle with motoring club’s star rating systems.

The team from RMS gets their award.

The Richard Davis OAM Award is given for outstanding contribution to the Peak National Body and was claimed by RMS, a long-term industry supporter and sponsor of the national industry body for many years. They have assisted the association in the development of their internal computer systems and were the first to assist with the collection of caravan park data which is now the envy of many other tourism associations.

The Chairman’s Award is an optional award and only given out if the CIAA deems there to be a worthy recipient. This year, it was decided that there should be two recipients: Australian MP Greg Hunt and long-time holiday park owner and operator Theo Whitmont. Greg was noted for his contribution to the CIAA initiative to provide a Defibrillator subsidy program, which has so far saved two lives across the country thanks to the federal government support through $1 million investment. Meanwhile Theo has over 30 years of experience operating manufactured home estates and has been the lead industry consultant to the NSW Government in relation to industry reform and legislative change, particularly with regard to the Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act 2013 and Regulation.

Pedders Suspension and Brakes were the winners of the Gerry Ryan OAM Award for Innovation for the important recognition of their innovation with the LoadRyder Onboard Scales.

Justin Hales, Camplify receiving the award from Luke Trouchet CEO of RV Boss

And last, but by no means least, Justin Hales was named the winner of the RV Boss Future Leaders Award – a prize that rewards dedication and outstanding achievement from the industry’s up and comers. Justin is the founder of Camplify, an RV rental company and digital platform that has grown to become the biggest of its kind in Australia in the last five years.

For more, visit the Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA).

All pictures: CIAA

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