Latest news with #caravanning
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Centrelink warning for Baby Boomers wanting to caravan around Australia: 'Need to consider'
Older Australians wanting to caravan around the country have been warned about the implications this journey can have on their Centrelink payments. Those wanting to get on the Age Pension or receive other payment types will have to undergo income and assets tests to find out if they're eligible. Services Australia community services officer Justin Bott said while caravanning across Australia can be fun, there are "things you need to consider" — like how long you intend to be away for. This will ultimately affect what is and isn't included in the assets test. Caravan and campervan registrations have soared by 27 per cent since 2019, according to Tourism Research Australia, with Aussies taking a staggering 15.2 million caravan and camping trips in 2023 alone. RELATED Centrelink reveals 'common misconception' about $1,732 pension payment Major retirement mistake millions of Aussies are making Little-known superannuation rule sparks warning for millions of Aussies In that same year, those aged 55 and above accounted for 42 per cent of nights spent caravanning. Back in 2018, that same age group only took roughly 3.4 million caravan and camping trips across the country. But this isn't only popular amongst older Aussies, dubbed Grey Nomads, but middle-aged and younger Aussies are also jumping on the travel on Centrelink payments if you're caravanning for less than 12 months If you are planning to spend a few months on the road in a caravan, Centrelink will not include your home in its assets test. Bott said Services Australia will continue to assess you as being a homeowner if your journey lasts less than one year. However, your caravan will be included in that test during that time. Depending on how much your assets are worth, the vehicle could push you into a higher bracket or off the books completely. That could mean your Centrelink payments get reduced or taken away altogether. Services Australia will also not allow you to claim rent assistance on the site fees when staying at caravan parks. Impact on Centrelink payments if you're caravanning for more than 12 months The situation flips if you intend to travel in a caravan for more than a year. Services Australia will not include your caravan in the assets test, however, your principal place of residence back home will be included. That could have a much bigger impact on your eligibility for certain Centrelink payments, as homes are typically worth far more than caravans. But this will mean you can claim rent assistance for your site fees during your journey. It's only when you return from the caravan trip that you can make your home exempt from the assets test again. "If you lost your payments while travelling, you should check your eligibility to see if you can reapply now that you've returned," Bott said. What are the limits for Centrelink's Age Pension assets test? Assets include things like cars, business assets, property (not including your primary residence), your superannuation balance, investments and private trusts and private companies. These recently went up on July 1 to keep pace with inflation. To access the full pension: Single homeowners can now have assets of $321,500, which is up from $314,000 Couples who own a home can have $481,500, up from $470,000 Single non-homeowners can have assets of $579,500, up from $566,000 Couples who don't own their home can have $739,500, up from $722,000 To access the part pension: Single homeowners can have up to $704,500 in assets, which is up from $697,000 Couples who own a home can have up to $1,059,000, up from $1,047,500 Single non-homeowners can have assets of $579,500, up from $566,000 Couples who don't own their home can have $739,500, up from $722, in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Warwick Davis' daughter pictured with boyfriend following family heartbreak
Annabelle Davis has posted the sweetest snap of her and her boyfriend, Charlie. The actress, who is the daughter of Warwick Davis, has been with Charlie since 2021. Posting to Instagram, the Dumping Ground actress, 28, shared the sweet picture of her and Charlie sitting together. Annabelle looked pretty in a pink floral dress, beige heels and a timeless Louis Vuitton purse, while Charlie wore a classic navy suit as they gazed into each other's eyes. Though the pair largely keep their relationship private, speaking to Sunbox Campers, Annabelle revealed they love to go caravanning. "Growing up my parents and I were away all the time camping and caravanning all the time… "Having grown up with that, it's made me want to go travelling myself." Warwick Davis' new love after heartbreak After the devastating loss of his wife, Samantha Davis, in 2024, Warwick revealed at the BAFTAs that a mystery woman had helped him find love again. The Harry Potter star was honoured with the BAFTA Fellowship earlier this year. He was tearful as he thanked his loved ones for their support throughout his career, including his "wonderful" late wife Samantha, his two children – Annabelle and Harrison – and someone he affectionately nicknamed "Sponge". Hinting at a potential new relationship, Warwick got particularly choked up as he said: "Special mention, too, should go to Sponge, you know who you are. Thank you for showing me that life can still have meaning, and for helping me to laugh and to love again." Though he's keeping Sponge's identity a mystery, he did reveal on the Jonathan Ross Show that his new girlfriend reminds him of Daisy May Cooper's character Kerry Mucklowe in BBC mockumentary series This Country. Warwick's late wife Warwick faced immense heartbreak when his wife, Samantha, died aged 53 in March 2024. Confirming the sad news, the Willow star released an official statement on his wife of 23 years, which said: "My wife and soul-mate, best friend. Devoted mother, My favourite human. My most trusted confidant and an ardent supporter of everything I did in my career, has passed. "The most open, warm person I have ever known. Her passing has left a huge hole in our lives as a family. I miss her hugs. She was a unique character, always seeing the sunny side of life. She had a wicked sense of humour and always laughed at my bad jokes. Samantha and Warwick's two children, Harrison, 21, and Annabelle, 28, joined their dad in the tribute after losing their mum. "Mum is our best friend and we're honoured to have received a love like hers. Her love and happiness carried us through our whole lives." Before Samantha's passing, the family of four were often spotted together at events and film premieres and it was clear that they all had an extremely close relationship.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
Lake District camping and caravan site 'required' upgrade approved after closure
A CAMPING and caravan site near Keswick is set for a major upgrade after plans to introduce a raft of improvements were approved. Braithwaite Bridges Camping and Caravan site, between Keswick and Braithwaite, is set to become a 'five-star touring site with tent pitches', as the Lake District National Park Authority gave the green light to a programme of refurbishment proposed by the site's owner, the Camping and Caravanning Club. The Design and Access statement says that the site has been closed for 'five to six years' since its acquisition by the Camping and Caravanning Club in 2018. It says that the site 'does not currently meet the high standards required'. Upgrades will include the modernisation and extension of the existing amenities building along with a range of improvements across the site including the creation of a 'natural play area for children'. The scheme would see a shift toward replacing tent pitches with hardstanding areas designed for touring caravans, and a number of 'hybrid' pitches, for caravans and tents. The planning decision statement says: "The applicant outlines that in their experience there has been a shift in market demand towards more flexible pitches to accommodate the increasing variety of tents and touring caravans. "The hybrid pitches are designed to accommodate this shift and would be primarily for the guests who require grass pitches, mainly including Tents, Tentboxes, Trailer Tents, smaller campervans (which then generally need tents to provide additional accommodation) and even 'Teardrop Caravans' (which often have a tent pitched next to them)." READ MORE: Plans submitted for new holiday park with 100 caravans READ MORE: Locals predict 'unsustainable' traffic if new holiday park off A66 approved It says that although tented campsites are 'limited in this area', the site is 'well connected to Keswick and the Borrowdale Valley in which there are numerous tented campsites present'. Addressing the potential visual impact of the improvements on the area, the statement says: "Though the physical works proposed are extensive they are all contained within the existing site which benefits from mature landscaping, both around the perimeter boundaries of the site and internally. "The plans submitted show that all of the existing planting would be retained and would be bolstered by additional internal planting." On highway concerns, it says that the proposal has to the potential to 'reduce movement numbers', from the high occupancy rates associated with the previous permission.
ABC News
03-07-2025
- ABC News
Businesses in WA coastal town Carnarvon struggle amid tourism decline
Residents of what was once a key highway stop-off feel they are being passed by as tourists head to Western Australia's north to escape the winter months. Carnarvon, 900 kilometres north of Perth, is the only major town between Geraldton and Karratha. It has generally hosted thousands of caravanners and other travellers on their way to tourist destinations in WA's Pilbara and Kimberley. But many businesses said this year's trade was so poor it could force their permanent closure. Jo Bumbak, who has sold preserves and ice creams using produce from the local area for 26 years, said this would likely be her final season. "There's businesses I've spoken to that said they don't even know if they're going to reopen their doors," she said. "I'm one of those businesses." Ms Bumbak said the length of stay for most caravanners visiting the region had declined, and state government-imposed liquor restrictions were a major factor. "I've heard of people who get all their stuff in Geraldton and bypass Carnarvon altogether," she said. "That's kind of a bit unfair because it's not the Carnarvon people who have made these decisions." Michelle Pinna, who has run the Norwesta Cararvan Park in Carnarvon for more than a decade, said the decline was noticeable. "Normally by Mother's Day I'm full, and it was certainly a lot emptier this year," she said. Ms Pinna said good weather in Perth may have stalled the season, but there were larger issues to be fixed. "It's always a stopover on the way to Exmouth, on the way to Coral Bay, but it is such a beautiful place." Many business owners also said the town's ongoing struggles with crime had hurt its reputation. "I know it's not just Carnarvon that has these issues," Ms Pinna said. "There's other big towns ... that have big problems, probably worse than Carnarvon. "I just think that Carnarvon does get a bad rap." Ms Bumbak called on the Shire of Carnarvon to check in with businesses to see how it could help. "A lot of the business people are feeling exactly the same way," she said. "That they have been let down by the shire and by the state government." Shire chief executive Amanda Dexter said tourism in the town had been "on the low side", citing the ongoing impact of COVID and liquor restrictions as factors. She said the shire had been working to improve the attractiveness of the main street, holding workshops and promoting local businesses. "We've talked a lot about stimulating the town centre," she said. "How we could possibly get people to linger a little longer and maybe spend a little bit more money?" However, when it came to crime and the impact of liquor restrictions, Ms Dexter said the shire's hands were tied. "We lobby and work with the government as much as we possibly can … but many of these things are not in our hands," she said. "We're often a toothless tiger." The WA Tourism Conference will be held in Carnarvon next May, bringing industry, government and academics to the region. Ms Dexter said she hoped it would bring a boost to the town. "We're hoping that we get to help the tourism community understand what Carnarvon has to offer and how wonderful it is," she said. "From that exposure get some real advertising and some real feedback out to … WA and the nation, and then be able to encourage more people to come and share this incredible place that we have."
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pet owner's urgent warning after dog almost dies following trip to beach: 'Scary'
A Queensland woman is warning pet owners to be vigilant after a trip to the beach almost killed her beloved dog. Billy the kelpie had only been out of the car for "one minute" when he found something in the dunes that left him incredibly unwell. Brenda De Pol Cope and her husband are caravanning through Western Australia, and this week found themselves at Song Beach in Denham on the state's isolated west coast. After parking up and letting their two dogs out of the car, Brenda quickly realised that she couldn't see Billy. After spotting him near the dunes, she saw that his mouth was covered in drool. While she didn't realise at the time, Billy had found a sea hare – a type of sea mollusc that is toxic to dogs and other animals. Sea hares are mostly around 20cm in length or smaller, and have a soft body with an internal shell. They have large 'wings' to help them swim and are usually well camouflaged, making them difficult to spot. The couple continued their afternoon, playing fetch with the dogs and returning back to the van for dinner before Billy started showing signs that something was wrong. "We'd settle down, and then he'd start crying again, and then the vomiting started," Brenda told Yahoo News. "It was probably about 9, 10pm. He had us up till 3am vomiting and eventually it was just bile coming out." As well as the consistent vomiting, Billy grew "unbelievably" weak and couldn't get into his bed on the lower bunk. By this point, Brenda and her husband knew it had something to do with Billy's find on the beach. With the closest vet more than three hours away in Canarvon, the worried owner had a phone appointment to see what could be done. "He said, 'you either take him down to Geraldton or you take him up to Canarvon, but I'm going to be honest with you, by the time you get there, he could be dead'," Brenda recalled. "It was scary." Small dogs can die in just six hours from consuming a sea hare. Luckily for Billy, his 23kg build helped him overcome the poisoning. And the biggest thing that helped was the vomiting. Four days later, the 13-year-old kelpie is feeling much better. "He's quite old, so he's still a bit unsteady on his feet, but otherwise he's eating and he seems very happy," Brenda said. She's now looking to buy a muzzle for Billy as an alternative to keeping him on the lead all the time, and she's urging other dog owners to do the same. "Keep them close," she said. "If you want to go off lead, use a muzzle." Sea hares produce a purple ink and toxic chemicals as a defence mechanism against predators. The ink contains a mix of secondary metabolites, some of which can be irritating or toxic to other marine organisms. Their toxicity comes from their diet — primarily red and green algae — which contain compounds that can be harmful if ingested. Dr Tim Hopkins from Northern Beaches Emergency Vet previously told Yahoo News that dogs will usually require immediate attention from a vet. "You'll see immediate symptoms from them having mouthed the sea hare, and then usually within hours, you're seeing those systemic signs," he said. "It's often hard with these inquisitive dogs, they'll find a random washed up item or animal and we do see that [poisonings] sometimes after mass beaching events, with jellyfish and other venomous animals. "It's about knowing what to do if they do get exposed, and then it's really about knowing where your closest emergency vet is." Hopkins said if a dog is exposed to a sea hare, owners can attempt to wash their mouths out, but that "shouldn't be done at the expense of getting prompt veterinary attention". Symptoms in dogs can include vomiting, drooling, lethargy, tremors, seizures and death in severe cases. While not all sea hares are equally toxic, ingestion is risky, and pet owners are advised to keep their animals away from these creatures when they wash up. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
