On the road again

Putting pedal to the metal

Roustabouts RV Club actively supports veterans

Caravan and recreational vehicle (RV) clubs offer nomadic travellers a mobile community to share their experiences. When Roustabouts RV Club (Roustabouts) Secretary and RAAF veteran Chris Lloyd learned that there was an opportunity for his club to pioneer a caravanning and touring equipped 4WD RV experience tailored for veterans, he decided to take action.

“Membership to Roustabouts offers me an environment of understanding and respect. While our members may not have served in Defence, they respect what we have done,” Chris explains. 

“Recently, a military veteran mentioned to me that there was currently no caravan club that actively supported veterans. This was hard to believe, but when I investigated further, I found they were correct.” 

Following this revelation, Chris approached Roustabouts’ executive to discuss creating a support network for the veterans in their membership base. They are now engaging with North Gold Coast RSL Sub Branch to get their ideas off the ground. 

Fostering community through caravanning and touring

By tailoring their activities for ex-service members, Roustabouts wants to help veterans connect with a likeminded community

Modern caravan and RV clubs offer friendship, organised touring, a support network and a community of like-minded people to share their travels with. Clubs like Roustabouts also offer important resources and training such as first aid, caravan and rig maintenance sessions and state-of-the-art medical equipment for their members. 

Additionally, caravan and RV clubs are often run by committed volunteers, who work hard to ensure their members enjoy the best possible experience on the road. Roustabouts’ volunteers host long weekend ‘musters’ within a 300km radius of Brisbane, as well as ‘long paddock drives’ and ‘mystery tagalongs’ for those who are more adventurous. For veterans, sharing the experience with other travellers can be cathartic. 

“Our veteran members do not generally talk about their past, but if they’re having a bad day there is always a mate to talk to or a group to sit with and have a coffee,” Chris says.  

“The best thing about our club is going on a trip around Australia with other members, knowing there is security and mates to talk to.” 

Veterans in RVs

A group of Roustabouts members settling in at their campsite 

Through the support of clubs like Roustabouts, veterans can belong to a group that offers more than just travelling companionship. In building their support network, Chris says that they are committed to providing a range of experiences across social, technical and commemorative activities to ensure veterans get the most from their membership. 

“Working with veterans in this way has mutual benefits – it makes our club stronger and provides an outlet for veterans,” Chris says. 

“Being a Roustabout can be a positive change to your lifestyle. Mixing socially with other club members and visiting rural and remote regions helps you become more community conscious.” 

Roustabouts also organises events for ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day and Vietnam Veterans’ Day in country regions.  

“To mark these occasions, we usually offer coffee mornings and musters at veteran-friendly parks like Standown Park and Yarak,” Chris says. 

For those interested in joining, Roustabouts uses a simple online registration process and regularly communicates with members to ensure they can plan and budget ahead of time. 

Ready to hit the road? Learn more about Roustabouts RV Club or get in contact via office@roustaboutsclub.com.au.

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