Caravan Industry Victoria champions MND Victoria’s Bendigo Walk for Care

CARAVAN Industry Victoria (CIV) is participating in MND Victoria’s local Bendigo Walk for Care on Sunday 23 November at Lake Weeroona Park, Bendigo to help support a Caravan Industry veteran.

Caravan Industry Victoria ex-President (2005 to 2010) and long-time industry veteran Tony Briant was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the start of the year. CIV has strong Bendigo connections, bringing the Bendigo Caravan & Camping Leisurefest to town since 2001, an outdoor lifestyle show partly initiated by Tony over two decades ago has been supporting local charities since.

This year’s charity connection is special with CIV supporting MND Victoria. MND Victoria provide a range of services across the state to support people living with MND, including counselling, carer programs, and vital assistive equipment. They’re the only non-profit organisation in Victoria providing support services to people living with MND at no cost to the people needing their support.

MND Victoria Fundraising Manager, Leah Szymanski said, “Community fundraisers, such as our longstanding Bendigo Walk For Care and this year’s Bendigo Caravan & Camping Leisurefest, make a huge difference to MND Victoria.

“It’s thanks to our community of generous donors and fundraisers that we’re able to support every Victorian living with MND. We were very sorry to hear of Tony’s diagnosis, and think it’s admirable that Caravan Industry Victoria are so committed to honouring him.”

At the Caravan Industry Victoria Hall of Fame and Industry Awards, held this June at Crown Casino, Tony was awarded the prestigious honour of being inducted as a CIV Life Member in front of 700 plus friends and colleagues. To date, only 28 people have been inducted as Life Members at CIV since 1952.

Caravan Industry Victoria CEO, Daniel Sahlberg described Tony as “more than a mentor, more than a leader, he has been a champion of knowledge and collaboration sharing, a guardian of our industry’s best traditions. Earlier this year he faced a personal challenge with incredible courage.

“Although it has broken his heart that he cannot contribute in the same way with his hands-on approach, his mark has been left on this industry and our people for generations to come.”

At the time of accepting his award, Tony reflected on his long career in the caravan industry, “during the day at caravan show, we [exhibitors] were enemies, but at the end of the day, when we got to the bar, we were best of friends.”

“His natural curiosity for how things were built drove him forward, from sweeping production floors to production line managers to sales teams with Australia’s most iconic brands. He became known as a trusted problem solver and forward thinker, introducing innovations well ahead of their time. But he [Tony] has always been an industry professional, a teacher, and a mentor at heart,” Sahlberg said.

Anybody who goes caravanning in Australia will have had Tony’s influence accompany them on their journeys, from his input in manufacturing, service and repair, sales, and training of over 250 students throughout Australia.

“There is barely any sector of the industry that hasn’t been influenced or improved by Tony Briant,” Sahlberg said.

Representing CIV at the Bendigo walk will be both CIV President, Nat Schiavello and CEO, Daniel Sahlberg. CIV are encouraging members who have a past connection to Tony Briant to attend the walk and if unable to make a donation instead to the Caravan Industry Association fundraising page.

The MND Victoria Bendigo Walk for Care is on this Sunday from 10am to 12.30pm at Lake Weeroona Park. CIV has started a fundraising page at mnd.org.au/my-fundraising/3343/caravan-industry-victoria.

The Bendigo Caravan & Camping Leisurefest is being held the following week at Bendigo Racecourse, 21 to 23 November. With over 110 exhibitors it is the biggest caravan and outdoor lifestyle show in the Goldfields. Tickets at caravanshow.com.au.

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