Grant Wilckens bestowed caravan industry’s highest honour: The Eric Hayman OAM Award for Excellence
The 2024 Caravan Industry National Conference ended with a bang and fireworks on its last night at the National Gala Dinner and Awards!
Grant Wilckens, Founder and CEO of G’day Group and Chair of Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) was awarded the industry’s highest honour – the Eric Hayman OAM Award for Excellence at the 2024 Caravan Industry National Conference’s Gala Dinner & Awards.
Grant appeared astounded to be presented with this prestigious award in his seventh and final year as Chair of the organisation.
He said: “It’s been an honour to Chair the board over the past seven years and I thank my fellow board members for helping guide the industry during such a challenging time.
“I love this industry and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. It’s an honour to win this prestigious award and I was certainly caught off guard – one of the first times I’ve been lost for words. Thanks to so many people who have guided and helped me on the journey – there are many of you.
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Grant Wilckens, Chair CIAA, accepts The Eric Hayman OAM Award for Excellence
Stuart Lamont Chief Executive Officer of Caravan Industry Association of Australia said: “Grant has transformed and elevated the caravan industry to be a powerhouse in Australian tourism.
“The introduction of institutional capital and for them to have confidence in the sector has been a driving force for growth in our industry and has turbocharged the product offering right across the country.
“He has also led our association (and the industry) across the most tumultuous period in memory and not only have we survived but we have flourished, strengthened, matured and thrived.
“I am pleased to work with and under Grant – he is an inspirational and passionate leader and very deserving of all the recognition which is bestowed upon him.”
The 2024 Caravan Industry National Conference at the RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast held over three days ended with a bang and fireworks on its last night at the National Gala Dinner and Awards!
The celebrations continued late into Friday night with guests enjoying a spectacular formal Gala Dinner. The delighted crowd was treated to a surprise show from Australian singer and songwriter Dami Im, devoured delicious locally sourced share plates, and even had a chance to win a million dollars!
The National Conference Gala Dinner was also a chance for the association to recognise and award those in the caravan and camping industry who have excelled in 2023.
- Among the winners were…
Cicely Sylow & Stephen Ritchie, from Ritchie Villages awarded the national Caravan Industry Association of Australia’s Gerry Ryan OAM Innovation Award for 2024 - Ritchie Villages was awarded the national Caravan Industry Association of Australia‘s Gerry Ryan OAM Innovation Award for 2024 for its flood resilient accommodation, a “passion project” of thrilled owner/operators Cicely Sylow and Stephen Ritchie who said: “Our Dunbogan Caravan Park experienced major flooding in 2021 and it required us to reconsider the flood resilience of our cabins and homes.
- “Out of this disaster, an ‘amphibiouscabin’ was born: a cabin that is installed on land and can float in response to a flood. We installed the first cabin in April 2024.
- “We are super excited to be starting a journey of bringing amphibious living to the Australian caravan and camping landscape and working with likes of JDA Co who are experts in flood resilient architecture and design.
- Congratulations also goes to…
- Big 4 Bendigo Marong for taking home the Gold Award in the Review Pro People’s Choice Caravan Park of the Year Awards.
Big 4 Bendigo Marong won the Gold Award in the Review Pro People’s Choice Caravan Park of the Year Awards. - AccomNews will be catching up with all of the awards winners this week.
- Once again the wonderful hosts at the RACV Royal Pines Resort went ‘all out’ presenting and providing an exceptional array of F&B offerings throughout the three-day event.
Stuart Lamont, CEO of CIAA said ” I want to thank all of the RACV Royal Pines Resort’s hospitality staff who helped make this conference such a success.
“Finally, I want to thank principal sponsors ModnPods and Leisure-Tec Australia and all our other sponsors who made this event possible.
Mandy has over 17 years of accommodation and tourism industry writing experience and is Editor of AccomNews & Resort News, Publisher of SchoolNews & Director of Multimedia Pty Ltd. She is a retired registered nurse with a 25-year NHS career that followed a few unforgettable years in hotel housekeeping.
