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Earn While you Travel - Gemtree Caravan Park

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Kate McMaster

The document discusses how working in a caravan park is a way for travelers to earn money and extend their holiday. At the Gemtree Caravan Park in central Australia, they employ both permanent and seasonal staff for a variety of roles like reception, cleaning, tours, and maintenance. Two travelers, Robyn and Tony, have been working there for six weeks giving tours and cleaning in exchange for money for fuel and a sense of community. The park owners prefer to hire older RVers over backpackers because they understand the needs of travelers better and have a good work ethic.

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Brought to you by ParkWalkin the www.caravanandmotorhome.com.au 143 EARN WHILE YOU TRAVEL A job in a caravan park is an easy way to make your dream holiday last longer WORDS BY PATRICK WHITELEY, PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATE McMASTER Tony on the quad
F or those looking for work on the road, sometimes the best bet is getting a job right where youre staying. The caravan industry is a rapidly increasing area for tourism employment, and holiday parks offer a wide and assorted mix of working opportunities. The Gemtree Caravan Park, 140km north-east of Alice Springs on the sealed section of the Plenty Highway, hires workers especially during the busy season from April to September. Kate McMaster from Gemtree Caravan Park says there are many different types of jobs on offer. We employ people for reception, our shop, the gallery and as cleaners and laundry workers. We also have fossicking tour guides and gemstone sorters, gardeners and yard workers. Our staff is all ages and from all walks of life, Kate says. Kate says the operations area involves the groundskeeping, maintenance and upkeep of the propertys accommodation, facilities and equipment. And maintaining the trees and grass is a key job. Water is a big issue. We have bore water here and we need to keep watering the trees to keep them alive, Kate says. The other area is administration, which involves the reception, marketing and record keeping of the individual departments as well as the overall business operation. Aaron and Kate McMasters took over management of the park in mid 2012, with Aaron overseeing the running of the park and Kate playing the role of events coordinator. GOOD WORKERS Kate says the park employs six RVers full-time C three couples aged in their 50s and 60s C and is very satisfied with the arrangement. The McMasters pay award rates, which is about $20 an hour, plus super and the staff stay at the park for free. She says vanners make good workers because they understand what other caravanners want and need. They know what its like to be on the road for six hours and feel grumpy and walk into a caravan park, Kate says. Because they understand, they can make the customers feel welcome and know what to say. Our staff go above and beyond the call of duty because they get caught up here in Gemtree culture and become part of the family. www.caravanandmotorhome.com.au144 Aaron cooking in the camp oven kitchen
Robyn and Tony from Tasmania have been working at Gemtree for six weeks and are treating the experience like a working holiday. And the extra cash is a bonus too. We dont have to work, but fuel is a huge cost when travelling and with our work we can set aside money for fuel, Robyn says. We gave up our jobs to travel and went to Alice Springs from Tasmania. After a while, Tony wanted to put down some roots and get a job, so we ended up here. I actually was offered work at a caravan park in Alice Springs, but we moved on and found this place six weeks ago and settled in with this beautiful family. We have got to know Kate, Aaron and the kids and take on a grand parenting role. SATISFYING JOBS Robyns jobs are varied, from scrubbing the toilets to selling gems in the gift shop, and she loves it all. The grey nomads ask us about our lifestyle and are envious of what we are doing. They want to do what we are doing, Robyn says. The Red Centre is a lot different to Tasmania, but its a fantastic way of life in the middle of nowhere. Youre on a holiday but youre working. While Robyn is involved in the office and cleaning, Tony takes on the role of tour guide for the gem stone tours. Robyn says because of its isolation, Vanners make good workers because they understand what other caravanners want and need WORKABOUT AUSTRALIA Workabout Australia is an online resource and planning tool for travel- ling workers, connecting travellers with casual, seasonal, part time and perma- nent work around Australia. Founded in 1996, Workabout Australia has built up a network of contacts for employment op- portunities in all states and territories of Australia. The Workabout Australia Club has thousands of members who are al- ready travelling or planning to set off on their trip of a lifetime, taking advantage of the many opportunities that are available for those who want to work. www.workaboutaustralia.com.au EARN WHILE YOU TRAVEL WORK IN CARAVAN PARKS www.caravanandmotorhome.com.au 145 Fossicking for precious stones Gemtree goes pirate for the day
life at the park is self-contained and social entertainment happens at night. At night we work on a volunteer basis down by the campfire and help serve the meals. We meet all the campers and we build up relationships. During the day we may take them to the gem fields, and at night we socialise. We are the same age and have a lot in common so its just fantastic, Robyn says. Robyn and Tony plan to work and stay at Gemtree for three months, before going back to Tasmania. But because they love working in the park so much, they plan to return for a major ball that is being held later this year. There is a big ball weve heard about involving 300 people and a band around the campfire. It sounds very special and we really want to be part of it, so were coming back to work. We are not getting paid. We just want to be here for it. The Red Centre has something alluring and spiritual about it. Its so huge and I feel such an insignificant part of it. Thats the magic of it. Kate says she mainly employs people through word of mouth and also advertises in the caravan forums. She says personality is an important attribute for anyone working in a caravan park. You need to be able to smile, laugh and most importantly empathise with the guests. You can learn the jobs easy enough, but what you need the most is personality, and you can tell that with someone in one minute. You cant say it is 5pm and just knock off. If there are people checking in at that time, you need to help them out, then you finish your work. As staff we need to make the customers feel like they are at home and relaxed about their stay. GOOD WORK ETHIC Kate prefers to hire RVers over backpackers because they have a better work ethic and the age similarities with guests. A lot of the young backpackers dont relate to the older generation and our grey nomad staff do relate. They are the same as the customers and understand. They dont have the pressure of the world on their shoulders because they have lived life and are mature. Aaron and I are relatively young park owners and its comforting for us to have an older age group as staff. Pets are a good example of how the staff better understand the needs of Gemtree customers. Every second van has a little dog and we have to respect pets because they are important to the people who stay here, Kate says. Kate says the Red Centre attracts thousands of RVers every year, and the guests are attracted to the natural landscape and unique history the land has to offer. My son is a third-generation School of the Air student C my father was involved in the first classes in the 1950s C and the staff love to hear about these stories. People come here because they want to learn about Australia and learn the stories of the bush. Everyone goes away glowing. DO YOU EARN ON THE ROAD? Drop us a line at editorial@candm.com.au and let us know about your on-the- road job! The grey nomads ask us about our lifestyle and are envious of what we are doing EARN WHILE YOU TRAVEL WORK IN CARAVAN PARKS www.caravanandmotorhome.com.au146 Park cleaner Hazel

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Earn While you Travel - Gemtree Caravan Park

  • 1. Brought to you by ParkWalkin the www.caravanandmotorhome.com.au 143 EARN WHILE YOU TRAVEL A job in a caravan park is an easy way to make your dream holiday last longer WORDS BY PATRICK WHITELEY, PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATE McMASTER Tony on the quad
  • 2. F or those looking for work on the road, sometimes the best bet is getting a job right where youre staying. The caravan industry is a rapidly increasing area for tourism employment, and holiday parks offer a wide and assorted mix of working opportunities. The Gemtree Caravan Park, 140km north-east of Alice Springs on the sealed section of the Plenty Highway, hires workers especially during the busy season from April to September. Kate McMaster from Gemtree Caravan Park says there are many different types of jobs on offer. We employ people for reception, our shop, the gallery and as cleaners and laundry workers. We also have fossicking tour guides and gemstone sorters, gardeners and yard workers. Our staff is all ages and from all walks of life, Kate says. Kate says the operations area involves the groundskeeping, maintenance and upkeep of the propertys accommodation, facilities and equipment. And maintaining the trees and grass is a key job. Water is a big issue. We have bore water here and we need to keep watering the trees to keep them alive, Kate says. The other area is administration, which involves the reception, marketing and record keeping of the individual departments as well as the overall business operation. Aaron and Kate McMasters took over management of the park in mid 2012, with Aaron overseeing the running of the park and Kate playing the role of events coordinator. GOOD WORKERS Kate says the park employs six RVers full-time C three couples aged in their 50s and 60s C and is very satisfied with the arrangement. The McMasters pay award rates, which is about $20 an hour, plus super and the staff stay at the park for free. She says vanners make good workers because they understand what other caravanners want and need. They know what its like to be on the road for six hours and feel grumpy and walk into a caravan park, Kate says. Because they understand, they can make the customers feel welcome and know what to say. Our staff go above and beyond the call of duty because they get caught up here in Gemtree culture and become part of the family. www.caravanandmotorhome.com.au144 Aaron cooking in the camp oven kitchen
  • 3. Robyn and Tony from Tasmania have been working at Gemtree for six weeks and are treating the experience like a working holiday. And the extra cash is a bonus too. We dont have to work, but fuel is a huge cost when travelling and with our work we can set aside money for fuel, Robyn says. We gave up our jobs to travel and went to Alice Springs from Tasmania. After a while, Tony wanted to put down some roots and get a job, so we ended up here. I actually was offered work at a caravan park in Alice Springs, but we moved on and found this place six weeks ago and settled in with this beautiful family. We have got to know Kate, Aaron and the kids and take on a grand parenting role. SATISFYING JOBS Robyns jobs are varied, from scrubbing the toilets to selling gems in the gift shop, and she loves it all. The grey nomads ask us about our lifestyle and are envious of what we are doing. They want to do what we are doing, Robyn says. The Red Centre is a lot different to Tasmania, but its a fantastic way of life in the middle of nowhere. Youre on a holiday but youre working. While Robyn is involved in the office and cleaning, Tony takes on the role of tour guide for the gem stone tours. Robyn says because of its isolation, Vanners make good workers because they understand what other caravanners want and need WORKABOUT AUSTRALIA Workabout Australia is an online resource and planning tool for travel- ling workers, connecting travellers with casual, seasonal, part time and perma- nent work around Australia. Founded in 1996, Workabout Australia has built up a network of contacts for employment op- portunities in all states and territories of Australia. The Workabout Australia Club has thousands of members who are al- ready travelling or planning to set off on their trip of a lifetime, taking advantage of the many opportunities that are available for those who want to work. www.workaboutaustralia.com.au EARN WHILE YOU TRAVEL WORK IN CARAVAN PARKS www.caravanandmotorhome.com.au 145 Fossicking for precious stones Gemtree goes pirate for the day
  • 4. life at the park is self-contained and social entertainment happens at night. At night we work on a volunteer basis down by the campfire and help serve the meals. We meet all the campers and we build up relationships. During the day we may take them to the gem fields, and at night we socialise. We are the same age and have a lot in common so its just fantastic, Robyn says. Robyn and Tony plan to work and stay at Gemtree for three months, before going back to Tasmania. But because they love working in the park so much, they plan to return for a major ball that is being held later this year. There is a big ball weve heard about involving 300 people and a band around the campfire. It sounds very special and we really want to be part of it, so were coming back to work. We are not getting paid. We just want to be here for it. The Red Centre has something alluring and spiritual about it. Its so huge and I feel such an insignificant part of it. Thats the magic of it. Kate says she mainly employs people through word of mouth and also advertises in the caravan forums. She says personality is an important attribute for anyone working in a caravan park. You need to be able to smile, laugh and most importantly empathise with the guests. You can learn the jobs easy enough, but what you need the most is personality, and you can tell that with someone in one minute. You cant say it is 5pm and just knock off. If there are people checking in at that time, you need to help them out, then you finish your work. As staff we need to make the customers feel like they are at home and relaxed about their stay. GOOD WORK ETHIC Kate prefers to hire RVers over backpackers because they have a better work ethic and the age similarities with guests. A lot of the young backpackers dont relate to the older generation and our grey nomad staff do relate. They are the same as the customers and understand. They dont have the pressure of the world on their shoulders because they have lived life and are mature. Aaron and I are relatively young park owners and its comforting for us to have an older age group as staff. Pets are a good example of how the staff better understand the needs of Gemtree customers. Every second van has a little dog and we have to respect pets because they are important to the people who stay here, Kate says. Kate says the Red Centre attracts thousands of RVers every year, and the guests are attracted to the natural landscape and unique history the land has to offer. My son is a third-generation School of the Air student C my father was involved in the first classes in the 1950s C and the staff love to hear about these stories. People come here because they want to learn about Australia and learn the stories of the bush. Everyone goes away glowing. DO YOU EARN ON THE ROAD? Drop us a line at editorial@candm.com.au and let us know about your on-the- road job! The grey nomads ask us about our lifestyle and are envious of what we are doing EARN WHILE YOU TRAVEL WORK IN CARAVAN PARKS www.caravanandmotorhome.com.au146 Park cleaner Hazel