The Caravan Industry’s Highest National Honour Awarded to Dennis Austin

The Eric Hyman Award for Excellence was presented to Dennis Austin at the 2016 Caravan Industry Association of Australia National Conference Gala Dinner

Dennis Austin is a caravan dealer and camping accessory retailer from the North Coast of Tasmania who has has undertaken over 15 years of continuous service, representing the interests of caravanning both in Tasmania and at a national level.  During this time he has served as a Board member of Caravan Industry Association of Australia and currently holds the Treasurer position, and has been instrumental in uniting the individual components of the industry over the years.

Dennis has made a significant mark on the industry through his political work and connections that have provided unprecedented access to Federal Cabinet Ministers, Senators and Members of Parliament, including the Former Prime Minister, Ministers for Small Business, Industry and many other portfolios.  The way the industry approaches lobbying has changed considerably through the efforts of Dennis Austin, culminating recently in an exclusive dinner with the Treasurer just weeks before the Hon Scott Morrison MP handed down his first budget.

Dennis delivered a memorable acceptance speech acknowledging the patience of his wife Marilyn, who he referred to in jest as a caravanning widow. “I couldn’t have done what I did without the support of my wife,” he said. “I wouldn’t have dreamed in my wildest dreams that I would be up here. To me the most rewarding thing of all is the special friendships we have with so many folks.”

On the caravan industry night of nights, the prestigious Eric Hayman Award for Excellence was presented among other industry awards including the CaravanCampingSales Future Leaders Award and the inaugural Richard Davis Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Peak National Body.