Both high and low profile RV industry identities have been recognised at this year’s national conference of the Australian Caravan Industry Association of Australia.
Announced at a Gala Dinner on the Gold Coast, Murray River caravan park general manager April Whiston was this year’s winner of the CaravanCampingSales Future Leaders Award. It’s the second year in a row that a woman has won the award, following in the footsteps of New Age Caravans’ CEO Gabby Montagnese. Whiston has been in charge of the family owned and operated Merool on the Murray caravan park for the past three years, and is also the founder of holiday cabin buying website Cabin Connect and the Mrs Caravan Park blog.
“As youth ambassador for the industry, I would like to establish a reputable career path for school leavers, promoting this to year 12 students interested in tourism,” she said..
“I believe a hands-on training program, accompanied with a structured TAFE course, would provide skills and experience to youth that will enable them to enter a growing industry that can afford to pay satisfying salaries.
Whiston beat five other sub-40-year-old finalists for the trophy, four of which are also directly involved in the caravan park industry. Her prize includes up to $15,000 towards industry study or professional development and the opportunity to attend a Caravan Industry Association of Australia National Board meeting.
Other annual award winners announced at the conference included Jayco founder and chairman, Gerry Ryan, who collected this year’s Richard Davis Award for Outstanding Contribution, while Mark Lindsay, who as chairman shares a seat on the Caravan Industry Association board with Ryan, was the 2017 recipient of the Eric Hayman Award for Excellence.