Motorists take note: a convoy of grey nomads have set a path to Dayboro.

Around 150 members of the Auswide Motorhome Club, in 70 self-contained vehicles, will call the Dayboro Showgrounds home for a week from next Monday as part of the group’s annual national rally.

Rally co-ordinator Carol Lapworth and her husband John, pictured, jumped on the motorhome bandwagon 20 years ago.

“We had friends who toured Europe and we were going to tour there during our long service leave, and the war broke out in Yugoslavia,” Mrs Lapworth said.

“I thought ‘if we can’t go there we’ll buy one (a motorhome) and do something here’, and that’s what we did. Having the comforts of home while you’re travelling and seeing Australia is great.”

The Ferny Hills retirees have seen most of the country via the open road.

“We’ve done quite a few seven-and-a-half month trips over here, but once grandchildren come on to the scene you generally can’t stay away for that long,” Mrs Lapworth said.  “We’ve also done eight-and-a-half months in America in a motorhome and that was a great experience.”

While most motorhome owners don’t mind being labelled ‘grey nomads’, don’t dare call them a caravaner.

“They’re a bit precious, some of them, and get upset if somebody calls them a caravaner,” Mrs Lapworth joked.  

“I don’t know why the animosity arose because in America everything’s called a RV and no one cares what you drive.”

Enthusiasts from around Australia, whose motorhomes range in price from $10,000 to more than $300,000, will open up their vehicles to the public at an open day at Dayboro Showgrounds on 24 July.

Entry is by gold coin donation, in support of Dayboro First Responders. Phone 0423 164 681 or visit http://www.auswide.asn.au/