Fishing News

The Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF) is proud to launch its call for A Charter for Recreational Fishing in Australia.

With over 5 million Australians going fishing each year, recreational fishing ranks as our largest participation sport and lifestyle activity. Recent estimates reveal that Australians spend more than $10 billion annually on recreational fishing and much of it is spent in rural and regional Australia. The huge popularity of fishing and the wealth and wellbeing it generates, now means that recreational fishing is starting to be recognised by governments at all levels as well as by the community at large. Australia needs a national Charter or comprehensive policy plan for recreational fishing, so that the important role recreational fishing plays within our community is better understood by decision makers and the broader Australian community.

The following initiatives are proposed as part of the development of a national Charter for Australia’s recreational fishers:
•         The appointment of a Minister for recreational fishing;
•         The establishment of a Recreational Fishing Council to act as a point of engagement between the recreational fishing community on key policy developments and implementation;
•         A scientific review to inform how decisions are made about access to marine reserves;
•         The recognition of fishing as a sport by the Australian Sports Commission;
•         The development of a long term sustainable funding model for representation and policy development activities;
•         A national education strategy to facilitate and co-ordinate education activities at the national, state and local levels;
•         A research trust fund that will work with existing funding and research mechanisms to focus research on priority areas for recreational fishing policy; and
•         An environmental trust fund that will work with existing funding mechanisms and on-ground organisations to facilitate activities that enhance and protect riverine and marine habitats.

A full copy of A Charter for Recreational Fishing in Australia can be downloaded at www.arff.com.au

Motor home experts enter caravan market
Avida (the manufacturer formerly known as Winnebago) is Australia's premier motorhome manufacturer that operates and employs people at their dealerships here on the South Coast, and also in Queanbeyan and Canberra. Their product is legendary amongst locals who use the product here and in sojourns across Australia. Avida has announced that it has commenced production on a range of caravans for release into the Australian caravan marketplace. Long recognised as Australia's number one manufacturer of quality motorhomes, it is a logical step for Avida to enter a caravan market in Australia which is much greater in size than that of motorhomes and by offering the market a caravan range of the same build quality and fit out as their motorhomes, the Avida caravan range will compare more than favourably with any competitive product in Australia today.

Bringing advanced computer controlled technology and engineering from their Motorhomes, the floor, walls and roof, are uniquely manufactured using a sandwich panel construction offering more insulation than any other Australian built caravan on the market and in particular utilising environmentally friendly synthetic "Superlight” panels providing more strength for less weight than a traditional stick and tin type construction found in so many other caravans. The roof of each Avida caravan is a one piece fully insulated fibreglass sandwich panel from nose to tail which doesn't suffer the problem of tradition caravans which have multiple joins on the roof where the aluminium sheets join. Avida caravan roofs are a thick panel with no joins and like their motorhomes are strong enough to walk on.

The floor of the traditional caravan is generally a series of 12mm plywood panels laid on a chassis and painted black underneath. Compare this to an Avida caravan sandwich panel floor which measures in over four times thicker at 49mm and comprises thick polystyrene foam insulation with top and bottom one piece panels overlapped to prevent creaking and the spongy feeling so often felt in caravans. The "piece de resistance” is the standard metal sheet laminated underfloor to protect the Avida caravan from road debris year after year and the underfloor is almost totally clear of plumbing and wiring to avoid the damage often experienced by other caravans.

Following the slogan of "Strength. Style. Support” Avida also offers customers the peace of mind knowing that each Avida caravan is covered by a market leading, factory backed 2 year warranty and 5 year structural guarantee, a two year free emergency roadside assist program, a free first service and a national accredited and trained service network who are there to assist you if needed.

See you on the water
Rob Paxevanos