Vale Richard Davis OAM

A leading figure in the Australian caravan industry has died while participating in a car rally.

Richard Davis OAM suffered a heart attack at the completion of a rally stage at the Targa High Country at Mt Buller last week. He was 70.

A successful businessman, Davis was a key player in the tourism industry who had owned caravan parks, a motel and hotels both in Adelaide and on the Yorke Peninsula.

After playing a pivotal role 25 years ago in setting up the national peak body for the Australian caravan industry (now known as the Caravan Industry Association of Australia) he served as a director as well as chairman in the period between 1992 and June 2015.

He was also president of the Caravan Parks Association of South Australia for over 40 years, only stepping down from this position in August this year.

Among other roles, Davis was Chairman of Yorke Peninsula Tourism for 14 years and a South Australian Tourism Commission Board member from 1999  to 2001.

He was also a Board member of Top Tourist Parks for over 16 years and the current chairman; a former councillor of the District Council of the Copper Coast, and a Foundation member of the Quarter Club, a group which raises money to support Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes.

Some of his accolades included the Eric Hayman Award of Excellence (1996); South Australian Tourism Awards Outstanding Contribution to Tourism by an Individual (1997); Top Tourist's Hugh Diedrich Award (2009); and the Harry Dowling Award for an Outstanding Contribution by an Individual to the South Australian regional Tourism Industry

He was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to South Australian Tourism in 1999.

Davis also judged the South Australian Tourism Awards for many years, and served on the Tourism Council of Australia and the Tourism Development Board.

The Federal Chairman of the Caravan Industry Association of Australia, Mark Lindsay, paid tribute to Davis by describing him as the 'grandfather' of accreditation in the caravan park industry.

"Tourism, not just the caravanning industry has lost a great leader," Lindsay said.

"Every time we pushed the boundaries towards industry improvement, Richard was always right behind you challenging and supporting so that the industry fortunes could advance.  His commitment and love for the industry was unquestionable."   

Caravan Industry Association of Australia CEO Stuart Lamont said Davis was “a  giant of support and one who thought firstly of others before himself”. 

“He was a gentle man who was incredibly generous in his time and service and willingly shared his knowledge and experience without hesitation,” Lamont said.

“His enthusiasm for tourism shone through as he passionately spoke and championed for an industry he loved.  There are many who are much the better for having known or crossed paths with Richard."

In a moving tribute just a couple of months ago at a celebratory dinner for his service to the Caravan Parks Association of South Australia, fellow national Board member Dennis Austin described Richard in eight words: Leader, Dependable, Loyal, Visionary, Genuine, Successful, Server, and finally Passionate.

He is survived by his wife Margaret.