The A'van Club of Australia

Joining the A'van Club of Australia

Dinner with the Queensland A'vanners

The famous worm races at Crowsnest Queensland

One of the major advantages of owning an A'liner is the A'van Club of Australia. You won't be able to put a value on the friendship and camaraderie you will find with other A'van owners.

State rallies are held on a regular basis at various times throughout the year and an annual get-together is the highlight of many owner's travels. Full details are always available in the thrice yearly A'van Club newsletter. Membership costs only $10 per annum and there is a $10.00 joining fee. The only criteria for membership is that you own an A'liner A-frame folding camper.

Since we are members of the Queensland branch, it is easiest for us to describe the fun we have with that branch. A typical A'liner rally may be held at a nominated caravan park, e.g. Crows Nest Caravan Park, for the last Friday-Saturday-Sunday of the month in May. Now this doesn't mean that people only arrive on the Friday - frequently they arrive earlier in the week and stay longer than the Sunday, but at least those who haven't the luxury of being retired can get there for the main weekend activities.

Picture courtesy of Jean Trinick Canberra Club

Part of the huge roll up to the 2001 Australian A'van rally at Pambula NSW

The main set activities are afternoon tea on the Friday and dinner on the Saturday night. Members are encouraged to socialize and see what others have done to customise their vans. Sounds a bit odd, but this is probably one of the highlights of the whole weekend and time just whizzes by. Now, if you don't have an A'van you might not understand, but what people can do within the same shell is just simply incredible. Imagine you have 80 or more little houses all virtually the same size, a similar layout with a bed, a lounge, a stove and sink, a refrigerator, windows and vents, curtains and cupboards, a choice of high or low sides, maybe a boot at the front of the unit....if you were to live in a community of that description, you might say "How boring!" but when you see what owners can do within the confines of their particular unit, you will be amazed.

We have people who change cupboards to roll out drawers, who build drawers under their beds, who install knee operated water switches, various solar panels and inverters to give more power - to be honest, the list is just endless! If you want to see a selection of the information we have gained, go to A-Show & Tell.

The friendships you make are immediate and are often lasting. No one worries whether you were or are a garbologist or a brain surgeon, a domestic engineer or a lawyer - the common ground is the fact that you own an A'van - a very unique concept.

Inaugural rally for the A'liner Owners Club USA

If you are thinking of buying an A'liner, seriously consider coming to a Club meeting and meet the people. They are the army of unpaid sales staff for the company and its dealers. They will tell you honestly of the joys they have experienced camping in their van - oh yes, most vans do have names (ours is the Possum House, others we know include the Bear House, The Dog House, The Escape Pod and so on).

Photo courtesy of Jean Trinick - ACT A'vanners

All A'van dealers have application forms for joining. Please bear in mind that all A'van club organisers are unpaid volunteers so from time to time responses may not always be immediate due mainly to touring commitments. If you are buying a pre-loved A'van and would like more details on the A'van Club of Australia here are the contact details:-

Secretary Brendon Smith

A'van Club of Australia
PO Box 1, Yarrambat, Vic, 3091
Phone (03) 9436 1356
Fax (03) 9436 1778

Chrissy Eustace