The article about new overnight-parking restriction signs targetting van-dwellers does little to further understanding of the situation with the general community. The parting comment by a staff writer (not Council), labelling some van-dwellers as ‘freeloaders’ reinforces the perceived stereotypical view of (and also), ‘four-wheeled travellers on easy street’. *
Living on the road is hardly ‘free’, as running, maintaining and insuring vehicles is considerable; food costs (local businesses benefit) and the infernal telco fees.
Having been on the road for eight months now, and being a ‘blow in’ traveller having a look around, I avoid ‘hot spots’ like in town, near houses or near water, as I do not like being ordered to move on while in jimjams late at night.
Admittedly, some indiscreet van-dwellers can be a pain to anyone, but generally most are ok.
The unspoken, yet perceived resentment, annoyance, whatever, simmering (unconsciously) in some people could go something like this: how dare they avoid paying high rents or mortgages like us; they are spoiling our million-dollar views; car parks are not for overnight campers; should they not be in caravan parks?; is this the beginning of an invasion to intrude on our piece of heaven?, and so on.
I wonder if there would be so much consternation if they all had Winnebagos worth $200,000?
In a previous incarnation I was long-term unemployed (as well as having a small business for two decades), and know how easily people can glean a false impression from pollies, media, etc, and attach a label like ‘dole bludger’.
Most people are tolerant of van-dwellers and some are surprisingly helpful, but some…
• Ed: The actual quote from the staff writer in our Echo article was, in relation to the Council debate, ‘No mention was made of the fact that a significant proportion of those living in vans in the shire are homeless locals rather than freeloading visitors’.
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