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Keith Holderness - Paradise Wanderers CMCA
Keith and wife Dorothy, were foundation members of the CMCA - No 180 - 17 years ago. They started the second chapter Tweed Gold Coast Wanderers in 1985, just three months after the first chapter started in Fingal Point at Tweed Heads. In 1995, they were also instrumental in starting The Paradise Wanderers chapter, with the encouragement of members of Tweed Gold Coast Wanderers. The other chapter got too big, so some formed another chapter. He and Dorothy are still office bearers in the Paradise Wanderers at the time of writing this article. As a result of a competition, one of the CMCA logos was designed by Keith - a map of Australia plus the three main vehicles chosen by people for touring around Australia. Motorhoming experience? Well, they started with an old Bedford Twin steer 36 ft in 1984 prior to joining the club and converted that from his own guess work - no experience but trade as a fitter and turner. “Used that for about five years, then purchased a 1974 Denning ex Greyhound coach which I proceeded to convert over next 2 or 3 years. At the same time, I was working on a Pioneer Scenic cruiser, which he reconverted for friends, Keith explained. “The Dennings was a very successful conversion, good layout, worked well, got good comment from professional manufacturers when they were looking at it. Designed and built everything even down to own upholstery. Fitting and turning was most adaptable of trades - there is not much difference between making a set of curtains or a stainless steel cover to go over top of an exhaust pipe. It is a matter of measure twice and cut once - making certain the end result will fit. The Denning coach lasted 9 years and traveled through the bottom end of Victoria and back again plus thousands of kms in Queensland and NSW,” Keith reminisced. A couple of tips from experience! 1. Make sure you make the door big enough when doing a conversion yourself - make the width of the doorway sufficient to get appliances in. 2. As you get older you forget some of your capabilities don't work as well. Keith was working on the Dennings and fell, breaking both bones in his right hand. “Try wiping your bum with your left hand!!!”, he challenged. “I fell off the back of the truck, put both hands out to break fall and sprained the left wrist. Broke the bone around eyebrow - 10 stitches. Lesson - don't work on things on your own.” These days Keith is Marketing Manager for Elite Elevators on the Gold Coast. It is 24 years since he and Dorothy left New Zealand in search of a job in Gove - with bauxite mines at Gove. His interview was at Circular Quay in Sydney, couldn't get job because the re-employment didn't start until September - several months later. So they bought a coaster bus as it was the cheapest largest vehicle for 2 adults 2 kids and 10 suitcases. They got as far as Palm Beach, fell in love with the Gold Coast, traveled onto Rockhampton, but also no work anywhere. So back to Gold Coast a week or two later, applied for job with Gold Coast City Council and got it. Then followed senior mechanic at a plant and equipment hire co - there for 8 or 9 years. Sole charge maintenance engineer at then to be completed Conrad Jupiter Casino and from there, became the senior property maintenance officer for the building with a staff of 35, made redundant in 1998, due to the downturn in the tourism industry, especially from Japan and Asia. and spent a year doing line marking on the roads, The line marking gave Keith a chance to re-evaluate where he was in his life and what he wanted to do. Then Keith was offered a position as workshop manager for A&K Engineering where he still is today but in the role of marketing consultant. “I would like to be there until I build my last motorhome and go travelling real time,” Keith summed up. “In July 2001, we sold our house of 14 years. The house was built with the Denning in mind with a proper loading dock. The Denning had to be sold and a pre-loved, pre-owned Coaster bus is our current substitute motorhome. Our daughter and granddaughter needed accommodation so we purchased a duplex". When their granddaughter is old enough, Keith and Dorothy will build a house with provision for a large bus and convert it again. Like most handymen, Keith loves experimenting and developing new concepts. Keith’s advise to anyone who wants to convert a motor home - ask a lot of questions - look a lot at home made or commercial conversions - try to think what you want the outcome to be before you start. There is enough experience in CMCA members if you just ask. So if you think this is what you want to do - Keith is happy to help genuine people. This is a fabulous lifestyle. One of the things he is passionate about is planning preferably when you are from ten years from retirement. “It is a frightening period for men in particular, because usually the wives have a lifestyle and pattern in place and men need something to fill in that void. There is only so much painting, gardening etc. you can do.” Keith sees motorhoming as a brilliant prelude to retirement, especially
as it is not a physical sport such as boating - it’s a great hobby
and an excellent stepping stone into retirement. He explained, “You
need to pre-program your body and mind to retirement so it is something
joyous. I hope to be in our dream motorhome and spend more time doing
what we have been able to do in small doses now.” |
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Last updated:
March 30, 2006
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