Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the recent disasters of flood and fire, the courageous efforts of volunteers have been seen and recognised alongside those of the emergency services. But one group of senior Australians has also lent an unheralded hand. They are the members of the Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia, travelling seniors, often given the tag of 'grey nomad'. Many of them have for a number of years worked as volunteers with BlazeAid and given generously of their time and effort. Travelling as they do in self-contained vehicles with their own water, power, and greywater and blackwater storage, it means that these volunteers do not need to be housed by relief organisations or locals, who are already struggling. Their efforts have gone largely unnoticed, except by farmers whose fences are being repaired or those who are being aided in their flood or fire clean-up. Ken Kipping, national consumer representative of the Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia, has brought these volunteers to my attention and it affords us all the opportunity to acknowledge the assistance given by these senior Australians to other Australians in times of need.