Caravan industry stalwarts honoured in awards

David Mann has been awarded an AM for service to the community of Victoria.

Two leading figures in Victoria’s caravan industry have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

John Spence, chairman of Prestige Jayco, received the Order of Australia Medal (OAM), and David Mann, the radio voice of the industry, became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Both have a long association with the Caravan Industry Association of Victoria (CIA VIC), the peak body for Victoria’s caravan industry.

John Spence has built one of Victoria’s biggest caravan retailers over the past 30 years, but his award is for service to the community of Geelong.

A quiet achiever, he has sponsored many community groups, especially in children’s sport and in opposing family violence.

He sees sport as a great part of a child’s life, and has sought to make it easy for parents to afford the cost of sport, from basketball and baseball to football, netball and golf.

John Spence received his OAM for service to the community of Geelong.

He also supports the Partnership for Violence Free Families and the Father Bob Maguire Foundation.

David Mann received his AM for service to the community of Victoria, particularly through charitable organisations, to business, and to the promotions and marketing sector.

CIA VIC Chief Executive Officer, Rob Lucas, said the caravan industry was fortunate to have people of the calibre of John Spence and David Mann as part of its extended family.

“It is a privilege to have members such as John who make such valuable contributions to
their communities, and to have allies such as David to promote our cause,” he said.

“John has been a highly regarded Member for 30 years, and David has become Victoria’s
voice of caravanning, not least through his ‘Mann About Town’ segments on 3AW.

“This year David connected CIA VIC with Entertainment Assist, which he chairs, and we areproud to support its work to promote mental health in the entertainment industry.”