Early December, Victorian caravanning industry members shone in black tie at the Centre Ivanhoe Art Deco hall to celebrate industry excellence at the Caravan Trade & Industry Association of Victoria 2021 Hall of Fame Business Awards.

Guests enjoyed three courses and entertainment by dance troupe Instinct and the Ticket2Vegas courtesy of Integrated OE, Cooper Tires and Caravan Industry Victoria (CIV). CIV presented 9 awards and introduced two new Hall of Fame Inductees: Ray Foley and Wayne O’Brien.

Charlie Tebb Service to Industry Award

• Nat Schiavello – NCE

Col Parrot Media Award

• David Mann- Mann Productions

George Pantazopoulos Young Achiever Award

• Michael Valentino, Crusader Caravans

Excellence in Caravan & RV Manufacturing partnered by AL-KO & G&S Chassis

• Crusader Caravans

Excellence in Service & Repair partnered by BMPRO

• Our Van RV

Excellence in Dealer/ Retailer partnered by Hume City Council

• Award RV Superstore

Employee of the Year Service & Repair partnered by Matthews Steer

• Vernon Bruce – Purple Line

Employee of the Year- Retailer partnered by Matthews Steer

• Judith Allison – Carac

Manager of the Year partnered by Thetford

• Bobi Petrusevski – Masterpiece Caravans

COL PARRÔT HONOURED

CIV immortilised Parable Productions’ own Chairman with the recently-renamed Col Parrot Media Award, recognising Col’s 45+ years promoting the caravanning life. Col, who conceived the Passport to Freedom, then proudly presented the very first award to mate and 3AW host David Mann.

CIV THANKED

Many award winners acknowledged the CIV, with Renee Francis, a co-founder at Award RV (winner of the Excellence in Dealer Retail winner) delivering a touching, emotional thank-you and Michael Paidoussis for Crusader recognising Rob Lucas’ efforts for “fighting for us”.

“TIME TO PARTY”

It was a collaborative effort, though, with CIV Director Rob Lucas admitting: “We have shone as an industry”. Rob Lucas invited the CIV team to the floor, announcing: “These people worked tirelessly for you,” where they were received warmly. “Now, time to party.”