Testimonials

 

 

Life Style with Deanne & Neil Hindson.

 

In 2002 Deanne and Neil retired after 37 years of nursing and teaching, although we both continue to do some ‘contract’, casual work in our professions.

 

After 40 years residing in northern Victorian town of Kyabram we decided to ‘sell up’ and spend time visiting our grandchildren and touring the vast expanses of Australia we have yet to visit.

 

Over the past 7 years we have spent up to 6-7 months each year ‘migrating’ to the warmer climes of Queensland. On retirement we purchased a 16 foot pop-top caravan, adding a full annexe some years later.

 

In the middle of 2008 when traveling through Victoria we decided to pursue ‘a life on the road’ full-time while we both still enjoyed good health. Over the past 7 years we have visited Caravan and Leisure Shows in Bendigo, Albury, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane researching the type of van we would like after trading in the pop-top caravan. At the Brisbane show in June 2008 Deanne and I spent 3 days and countless hours checking out and comparing the qualities of the extensive range of caravans available nowadays.

 

We finally narrowed the choice to 2 caravans, one being the Retreat range. The clinching factors in our decision were the ‘value for money’ with an extensive range of ‘extras’ being offered as standard in the Retreat caravan. Our salesman was manager Steve Borg who’s knowledge of construction, design and layout variations was crucial in our final decision, as this was going to be our home for the next 4-5 years.

 

We settled on the Magnetic model with the uniqueness of the bathroom/laundry area being a key feature. Other selling points of the Retreat Magnetic caravan was its solid construction of chassis; the quality appliances and fittings used throughout the roomy interior; the joinery work on cupboards and drawers and the extensive range of window and seat covers to choose from. Ordered for March 2009 we took delivery from the Melbourne factory in mid- March. (slight delay due in part to the Retreat team responding to the bush-fire crisis in Victoria by constructing a caravan for the Red Cross to use as temporary shelter for families affected by the bush-fires)

 

We opted to include several extras such as slide out barbeque, diesel heater, solar panels and battery pack for ‘bush/free camping’. We are rapt with standard features such as the extra large 225 lt Domestic 3- way fridge, the large shower recess, the efficient hot water system, the built-in 4.5 kg LG washer / dryer machine and the roomy layout and appointments in our Retreat Magnetic. The full length awning- 21 foot gives us an enormous amount of outside living area under shelter.

 

During our first 2 months, having covered 2200 kms, from Melbourne to Bendigo, Kyabram through to Canberra we needed some minor adjustments to some of the fittings. The team at Retreat Caravans – from office staff to the workshop tradesmen to the management group were extremely cooperative and helpful with instant action taken to rectify the problem. Our future plans with 11 grandchildren between Bendigo, Canberra and Brisbane will be spent on the east coast between these centres watching them pursue their sports and school activities and enjoying their company as they grow and develop in their local communities. We aim to complete extensive tours of South Australia; outback NSW and Queensland; Travel through the ‘centre’ to Darwin and then across to the west coast through to Perth and finally across the Nullabor Plain.

 

Keen golfers we hope to maintain our handicaps by playing at courses in each town/city we visit, aiming to gradually work through the list of Australia’s top 100 public golf courses. As relative newcomers to lawn bowls we will be taking every opportunity to play socially and in club competitions as we travel.

 

We both enjoy fishing, beach and estuary as well as surfing and swimming so these activities will feature strongly in our travel plans whenever the opportunity arises. Having completed several ½ marathons and ‘fun runs’ Neil plans to complete runs such as the ‘Bridge to Brisbane’ and Noosa ½ marathon in 2009.

 

Visiting friends and ‘catching up’ with fellow travelers met in earlier travels is another priority in the future. Meeting and socialising with other caravaners – sharing experiences and adventures gives one deeper insight into the scope and beauty of the landscape and the diversity of character and personality of fellow travelers. Having a good ‘yarn’ around the campfire or in the caravan park is both stimulating and entertaining.

 

We are living our dream in our dream home – a Retreat Magnetic caravan.

 

Deanne & Neil Hindson.