As the east coast of NSW was slammed with torrential rain and severe weather early in April 2024, I headed north to attend the Caravan and Camping show at Coffs Harbour. Avan Sydney engaged me once again to represent their brand and work as part of the NSW A-team! I was looking forward to catching up with my colleagues, who I now claim as friends, and meet the lovely locals of the mid-north coast over the two-day show.

Three of us headed out for dinner and found the nearby ‘Hoey Moey’ hotel. It had a cool Friday night vibe and attracted an eclectic mix of locals. Over the evening our numbers grew until the full A-Team were together and reconnected. We come from far and wide – Sydney, Central Coast, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne and Darwin. 

DAy 1

Coffs hadn’t had a show for a couple of years, so this was a great opportunity for locals to come and see what the market had to offer in a post-Covid caravan and camping world. The weather dished out a lovely sunny day, but with the rain the previous day, it was quite muddy underfoot. Fortunately, we had been allocated an asphalt base in what was soon deemed a prime location. It was a busy morning talking to people and showing the range of options presented from touring vans, off road vans and campers as well as luxury motorhomes. 

Dealerships attend shows to sell and promote their products with the hope that the buyers are around and ready to purchase! It seemed that these visitors were starting their research, narrowing options for a future decision and enjoying the brief spell of sunshine. We all gathered leads and hoped to see some of our contacts again on day two. 

To combat the social indulgence of show-life a couple of us have committed to early morning walks. Our Sunday started with a walk in the rain under gloomy skies. We headed for a nearby cafe for coffee, breakfast and shelter! During breakfast a call came in followed by images of our show stand. Last night’s storm had blown through and overturned our gazebo office, throwing equipment, brochures, tables and chairs all over the place. It was a mess.  It did not bode well for a productive day. 

Day 2

We hurried back to start the cleanup. The rain was still falling, our spirits with it. The A-Team dug deep for optimism and positivity. We consoled the boss, stepped up and salvaged the gazebo, righted the chairs and tables, cleared the broken and damage stuff, and started to think about how to make lemonade with this basket of lemons! We all checked our bags for dry forms and usable brochures consolidating what we could and just got on with it.

By mid-morning the skies started to clear, and people started to venture through. We brought our sense of humour and camaraderie to the day and whilst the show will not rate as a highlight for the dealership this year, for me personally it was an example of how team culture can affect how we face unforeseen and uncontrollable challenges. This industry is about exploring and experiencing the great outdoors.  Our team proved why we are the A-Team by maintaining our ‘can-do’ energy when mother nature dished us up a nice big challenge!

As I packed up to head back to Sydney, I felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing that when times get tough, it’s the people around you who make all the difference. Whether it’s gathering under a shaky gazebo in a storm or enjoying breakfast at a local café, the connections we build along the way are what truly matter. Here’s to more adventures, rain or shine, with my amazing team!