Many people
from overseas - North America in particular - have trouble understanding
some of our Aussie terminology so here are a few examples that
may make things a little clearer in the RVing context.
(These definitions first appeared in an article I wrote for the
Jan/Feb 2002 edition of the 'RV Times' - a free Canadian magazine for RVers
and Campers that also has an on-line edition)
Vegemite - a black, yukky-looking, yeast extract that
Aussies spread on bread and toast and most can't live without.
Dodgy - a bit suspect. Not quite right.
Crook - bad as in : 'you got a crook deal'; sick as in
: 'I feel a bit crook'; faulty. It also means a criminal in the
conventional sense.
Caravan Parks - Campgrounds perhaps or Trailer Parks.
Most have concrete slabs for annexes, water, power and sullage.
Some have 'drive-through' sites so outfits can stay connected
overnight. We do have National Parks with camping allowed for
a fee and usually these have a strict 'No Pets'policy.
LPG - we talk about 'LPG cylinders' as opposed
to 'propane tanks' and these are usually 9 kg. Some caravans
use 4.5 kg cylinders. Many tow vehicles are converted to run
on LPG as it's roughly half the cost of petrol.
Gas - LPG - not petrol! Hence Service Stations, Petrol
Stations, Service Centres but not Gas Stations although they
usually sell gas (LPG) as well.
We donít use furnaces but warm our units with electric
fan heaters or sit outside by a campfire. (The exception would
be in a few large Class A motorhomes fully imported from the
States)
There are very few fifth-wheelers here and most caravans
would be 20' or less. We have very few slide-outs but some of
our larger motor-homes have them and just a few larger caravans.
A round Australia trip usually involves about 20,000 kilometres
(our spelling!) and petrol prices vary from around 90 cents a
litre (also our spelling) to upwards of $1.40 in remote
(outback) areas. We have never heard of 'boondocksí!
Our mains electricity is 240 volts AC but most RVs are
also wired for 12 or 24 volts. With plenty of sunshine in most
States year round, there is an increasing use of solar power
to charge deep-cycle batteries. Many people use inverters to
turn 12 volts into 240 volts to allow them to use normal household
appliences while on the move.
Wallabies are small marsupials - like a small kangaroo
but 'On The Wallaby' means going on a trip outback. It's
the name of my monthly column.
Most Australians live in cities on the seaboard and many have
never seen a wallaby or kangaroo in itís own habitat!
