Donation camps

oldbloke · Guru

Donation camps

Bill B · Guru

And the non payers are the first & loudest whinge when these types of places are closed down

Mike Harding · Guru

Sadly, I have observed similar.

The consequence of these dishonest people's actions is that the volunteers and other locals who provide the park soon realise that only (say) 33% of visitors are paying and either decide it's not worth keeping the park going for this income or they raise the fees to the honest people to compensate.

The three or four community parks I occasionally use charge a small fee ($10 or $15) and a volunteer turns up regularly to collect it, there's no escaping Dorothy at Lockington :)

Tony Bev · Guru

I agree with all the posters above

It is once again, some of them, spoiling it for the rest of us

I have small envelopes, so when I put in a donation, the people concerned know that I am grateful, for a donation camp

I can only say to those who (for whatever reason), refuse to donate
If you are looking for a new friend, on the road, then it aint me

I shall be brutally honest here, if I lived in a small town, and saw a free/donation camp, full of rubbish, with no donations, I would say close it down

Opps, off my soapbox now

dogbox · Guru

Tony Bev wrote:

I agree with all the posters above

It is once again, some of them, spoiling it for the rest of us

I have small envelopes, so when I put in a donation, the people concerned know that I am grateful, for a donation camp

I can only say to those who (for whatever reason), refuse to donate

If you are looking for a new friend, on the road, then it aint me

I shall be brutally honest here, if I lived in a small town, and saw a free/donation camp, full of rubbish, with no donations, I would say close it down

Opps, off my soapbox now

that is exactly what is happening , because we are to cheap to donate ,some even increase their supply of toilet paper . then we blame the council/caravan park owners because we don't have a cheap place to park our expensive mobile homes

oldbloke · Guru

Yes, toilet paper is supplied too.

peter67 · Guru

Not donating? may the giant fleas of a thousand camels infest your crotch.

oldbloke · Guru

33%. Lol, I think more like 10%

Magnarc · Guru

I can second that Mike. We stopped at Lockington for two nights and Dorothy was outside almost before I had opened the door. Came across the road in her car!!!!. Nice little town though and the diesel was very reasonable, mind you it was two or three years ago!

Bicyclecamper · Guru

Tony Bev, we have a donation camp at our town. It is the Lions Park at the Emu, on the edge of Bundarra NSW. Hardly a soul donates. We were going to put in solar showers, but the cost to build the shed and solar showers was to be $30,000 so we have shelved that idea for a while. To recoup that money was to have a fee to charge for a shower. After they did a questionaire, and survey on it, people said they wouldn't pay for it, as most have onboard showers and toilets. Then the invarible question was why do you use the camp area as it does have a toilet and water supplied, and the general concenses was is that it is free. We have a sign near the main table seating area that states it is donation camp, but most said they don't donate. So why should we put in solar showers.

msg · Guru

I would be happy with no amenities. Just be able to park overnight on a spare piece of ground is plenty.

Mike Harding · Guru

I wonder *why* people do not donate?

The suggestion from this thread is that a large majority of people do not donate so they can't all be be miserable misers eg. many will be posters to this website, "normal people" in other words.

I'd be most interested to hear your rationale for not donating people....

dogbox · Guru

the theme could be, anything free is always better, but that just means someone else is footing the bill

Kebbin · Guru

The question about donation camps has been discussed on this forum and others in the past and the reason for these ignorant souls to forgo putting a donation in the box was that; a donation is optional.
These self righteous fools just don't get it, the volunteers in these small towns ask for a donation so they can keep these places clean and tidy for these selfish stupid people.
These volunteers cannot just put a fee on staying there because the land is either Council owned or State owned and it would not be legal to charge, hence the donation box.
These small towns & the volunteers should be supported by calling out these miserable b*s*a*d's.

peter67 · Guru

Nice one Kebbin.

yobarr · Guru

Kebbin wrote:
The question about donation camps has been discussed on this forum and others in the past and the reason for these ignorant souls to forgo putting a donation in the box was that; a donation is optional.
These self righteous fools just don't get it, the volunteers in these small towns ask for a donation so they can keep these places clean and tidy for these selfish stupid people.
These volunteers cannot just put a fee on staying there because the land is either Council owned or State owned and it would not be legal to charge, hence the donation box.
These small towns & the volunteers should be supported by calling out these miserable b*s*a*d's.

Have you ever noticed that it is often those in the older,cheaper cars and vans who pay their way,and donate,while those in the LC200s,Rams,F250s and the like who think it is their God-Given right to grace we peasants with their presence,just drive away without making a donation? Cheers

Craig1 · Guru

Can we blame the "cashless society ? or just call them politicians? "

Gundog · Guru

Craig1 wrote:
Can we blame the "cashless society ? or just call them politicians? "

No Tightarse is sufficiant

oldbloke · Guru

I did notice some very expensive set ups. So, they can afford it.
Yep, a donation by definition voluntary.
The move to less cash would not help.
But I I'm inclined to think its just greed.

Mike Harding · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
I wonder *why* people do not donate?
The suggestion from this thread is that a large majority of people do not donate so they can't all be be miserable misers eg. many will be posters to this website, "normal people" in other words.
I'd be most interested to hear your rationale for not donating people....

No response: to me that suggests people are ashamed of their behaviour and not prepared to acknowledge it in public.

All I can say is that if you are doing something of which you are ashamed then you should probably stop doing it....

Tony Bev · Guru

Bicyclecamper wrote:
Tony Bev, we have a donation camp at our town. It is the Lions Park at the Emu, on the edge of Bundarra NSW. Hardly a soul donates. We were going to put in solar showers, but the cost to build the shed and solar showers was to be $30,000 so we have shelved that idea for a while. To recoup that money was to have a fee to charge for a shower. After they did a questionaire, and survey on it, people said they wouldn't pay for it, as most have onboard showers and toilets. Then the invarible question was why do you use the camp area as it does have a toilet and water supplied, and the general concenses was is that it is free. We have a sign near the main table seating area that states it is donation camp, but most said they don't donate. So why should we put in solar showers.

Hi Ric (Bicyclecamper)

I have never been to Bundarra, but have been up the New England Highway, and stopped at Guyra, so I know perhaps a little of your area

I fully agree with you, that there is no need to put in solar showers, at your donation camp, as it has been proved (by lack of donations), that travelers in your area, do not deserve it

I also say, that I for one, will never blame a small town for closing a free/donation camp, if travelers are not spending money, in that town

Wanda · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
I wonder *why* people do not donate?
The suggestion from this thread is that a large majority of people do not donate so they can't all be be miserable misers eg. many will be posters to this website, "normal people" in other words.
I'd be most interested to hear your rationale for not donating people....
No response: to me that suggests people are ashamed of their behaviour and not prepared to acknowledge it in public.
All I can say is that if you are doing something of which you are ashamed then you should probably stop doing it....

Maybe people just can't be bothered replying to you, because most do the rght thing here, maybe!

You often seem to assume a lot, me thinks

fwdoz · Guru

The last donations spot we stayed in in far North Eastern Vic had around 15 vans when we pulled in. We placed a generous donation in the box.

Next morning I counted 23 vans. Only 3 people had donated of which we were one. Also, someone took the toilet paper after the caretaker had been, along with breaking tree branches for fire kindling.

It is no wonder these camps are vanishing with so many selfish grubs.

JayDee · Guru

Recently stayed at the Augathella donation camp. The townspeople or council have just recently installed a new bank of toilets. It is a credit to the town.
Plus I was told that cost is covered by the donations that they receive at the campsite.
Also good firewood for a small fee.
And what about the artwork on their water tower. By far the best we have seen. The Roma town council could take a leaf out of their book.
We donate where the box is part of the campsite conditions.
Like I have said before, too many rv's HAVE LONG DEEP POCKETS AND NO ARMS.
They would be the first to bitch when the campsite is closed.
We were the last to leave Morven after 610 vans had parked the night and when I dropped $5 in coins in the boxit played a tune. Like as if it was empty.
Jay&Dee

JayDee · Guru

Re above post.

"We were the last to leave Morven after 610 vans had parked the night and when I dropped $5 in coins in the box it played a tune. Like as if it was empty."

Oooops sorry,

Obviously, I did not proofread my words before posting.

Should have read 10 vans. Certainly not 610.
Jay&Dee

-- Edited by JayDee on Saturday 28th of August 2021 09:16:30 PM

Bill B · Guru

JayDee wrote:
Re above post.

"We were the last to leave Morven after 610 vans had parked the night and when I dropped $5 in coins in the box it played a tune. Like as if it was empty."

-- Edited by JayDee on Saturday 28th of August 2021 09:16:30 PM

The other campers may have put notes in the box for all you know, so they wouldn't play a tune.

Hardly a true guide to if others had paid or not

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I have stayed at many donation camps and find very few actually donate. I donate at all I stay at and after a couple if argument with those that don't, say nothing now.

One place I really enjoy is Jugiong Show Grounds, just north of Gundagai in NSW. It is a donation and the box is next to the toilet block out front. I spoke to a lady that is on some committee there and she said not many at all actually donate.

Another one is Home Hill rest stop, south of Townsville QLD. The box is on the back of ladies toilet but a lot of people reckon they don't even know it is a donation camp.

St Lawrence, north of Rockhampton QLD is another, was a donation but very few donated so now they charge per night and I believe someone comes around to collect money.

If people don't pay these places will close or end up like St Lawrence.

Keep safe out there.

yobarr · Guru

Bill B wrote:
JayDee wrote:
Re above post.

"We were the last to leave Morven after 610 vans had parked the night and when I dropped $5 in coins in the box it played a tune. Like as if it was empty."

-- Edited by JayDee on Saturday 28th of August 2021 09:16:30 PM
The other campers may have put notes in the box for all you know, so they wouldn't play a tune.
Hardly a true guide to if others had paid or not

Yeah,right.My experience with donation camps is that fewer than one in ten caravanners contribute,with the vast majority happy to simply "hit and run".Cheers

oldbloke · Guru

I guess about 10% are leaving say, $4 or $5 a day.

If everyone just dropped in $2 a day. I know pretty stingy. But that would add up pretty quick, more than they currently get.

TheHeaths · Guru

What I find interesting, and Dougwe alludes to it, is that people have no trouble sniffing out a donation camp to stay, but have all sorts of issues finding the donation box that is often in plain site!

None so blind as those who dont want to see!

-- Edited by TheHeaths on Sunday 29th of August 2021 07:02:01 AM