Craig Blackler, proprietor of Perkins Caravans Lismore for 18 years, has decided that his location has to change, and an opportunity has come up in Ballina that provides a perfect solution. 

Due to a number of factors surrounding the floods, Craig has made the tough decision to leave the original premises which has been part of the fabric of Lismore society for over 50 years.

“It wasn't an easy decision because I am Lismore, through and through,” says Craig, considering the myriad of reasons why the decision came about.

“It’s time to make a change, having been through the devastation that Lismore has seen and been through.

“I’ve lived here since I was about six or seven, so I've seen a lot of floods come through Lismore, but nothing like we've been through in the last few years. And to be perfectly honest, if we had to do it again, it'd break me emotionally, physically and probably financially. 

“It would probably mean the end of the business one way or another.”

Perkins Caravans have experienced a stream of influences that have swayed Craig’s decision.

After the flood, Craig did get assistance, but it was not enough to make him feel secure about a future when another flood hits. The payment he was given was enough to purchase a portable office (which he now has to sell—if you need one, give him a call!).

Part of the land he was occupying was sectioned off for reuse, and the main office on that land, decimated by the floods, was never thought to be replaced.  

Craig said another shed on the property was condemned, but it was the only shed they had. In December last year, he was given the ok to be replaced, but Craig is still waiting on further developments.

It has made it tough to do business comfortably.

(Doing business out of the portable office)

Directly after the floods, assistance that flowed into the CBD, like skip bins, was not meted out to his location in South Lismore, and Craig only received help after sending persistent requests.

“I can only speak from my personal experience. Every time we've had a big flood, being on this side of the river, we miss out.  

“All the focus and assistance around getting back from the flood is based on the CBD. Maybe that's because the CBD is more visible. I feel forgotten over here.”

After Craig's decision to leave was made public, Council did call and ask if there was anything they could do to keep Perkins Caravans in Lismore, but Craig said it was too little too late.  

“I said, that's a phone conversation or a knock on the door that maybe you guys should have made in the last two and a half years rather than reacting after we've physically made the decision to go.

“There's a lot of businesses that have been affected, and they're not putting their hand out asking for help, but a show of support from the Lismore Council and the State Government is something that can go a long way, if for nothing else, to boost morale and make you feel like you’re needed here.”

There have been some booms in caravanning recently, and the flood was also a potential time to do well, but it did not turn out that way for Perkins. This left Craig feeling disappointed in the State Government's handling of the situation, locally.

“We had the massive boom from Covid, and then the floods created another massive need for temporary housing. We didn't get as much out of that. 

“The state government went and sourced caravans. Instead of sourcing caravans from Lismore, they went and got them from wherever they got them. 

“It was upsetting at the time because we had a massive financial loss as well. So for them to have approached us would have helped us get back on track.”

This stocking issue is exacerbated when your produce is so large and cumbersome. Relocating caravans, finding places to store them during the flood, and keep them during the clean-up was no small feat. 

Craig couldn’t be happier with the torrent of assistance that came from the people of Lismore right on time in 2022. 

“We actually moved them all twice in the first 18 hours. It takes a long time to move them all.”

The caravans were originally taken up to East Lismore, but the water rose beyond all predictions, so they had to be moved again higher up the hill.

(Craig with some of his favourite caravans)

“We've got to make a decision before the roads close or before water gets on the roads, because it's a six-hour job to move the caravans out and we can't risk it.

“The Lismore community helped us do that. We had people just call in and pick them up and move them.”

It was done so quickly that when it was done, Craig realised he had no idea where a lot of his stock had been taken! But people rang in, and he got every one of them back. 

Now the warnings come through early, and there is so much risk attached to the business, Craig is finding it harder to deal with.

“Lismore is very cautious and every time we get a little bit of rain, now, the flood warnings come out. In the past, that's never affected me, but it does now because of what we've been through. 

“It makes me nervous. I don't sleep at night.”

“Lismore has been fantastic to us. And not just Lismore, it's the surrounding areas. Casino, Kyogle, as far out as Tenterfield, Glen Innes and Inverell. They've all really supported our business and made our business what it is today.  

“Les Perkins established the business over 50 years ago, and Les is still around in Lismore.

“We’ve never changed the name of the business because of the legacy that Les began.”

Craig will remove “Lismore” from the business's name when he moves, but that is all.

“We've grown really close to our customers and the tradies, the people that have helped us along the way. The people of Lismore have been really supportive and amazing. Just beautiful people. So, once again, that made it a hard decision.

Part of the decision to move came about when an ideal location was made available.

“We've got a site opposite Aldi in Ballina. There was a caravan repair shop there, which is closed down.”

Craig plans to reopen the repair shop, but it will run as a separate business that coincides with his offering. “So it kind of turns into a one-stop caravan shop.”

“We'll still be able to offer some form of service to the people in Lismore. Then again it might be an opportunity for them to go for a drive down to Ballina and visit us and have some lunch or something!”