CARAVANS FOR A CAUSE
The humble Aussie caravan has traditionally been a symbol of freedom, travel and adventure. But it has also been a saviour for Australians experiencing poverty, a haven for those who have lost their homes in natural disasters, and a sanctuary for those who suffer from mental illness and find themselves estranged from loved ones.
Today, not much has changed. Around the country, RVs are being renovated, repurposed and custom-built for a far grander purpose than just travel. They are being primed to house homeless war veterans, helping women who are victims of domestic abuse and transporting first-class cardiology testing facilities to folk who live in the bush.
It’s heavy, yet heart-warming stuff. Here we discover four different groups who are using caravans to radically change lives.
SOLDIERING ON
Ex-serviceman Ian Bottrell feels very passionately about the livelihood of other returned war veterans, particularly in his local area of Lismore, NSW.
“I have known a couple of homeless veterans, some of them were living under bridges,” he tells Caravan World.
“They go overseas in the service to places like Timor, Afghanistan and when they come home everything is lovely dovey with their wives and then all of a sudden the night terrors start, and they are screaming in the middle of the night.
“It frightens the daylights out of the wives and they can’t put
