A MUST READ .... Caravanning Legendsl

[Deleted]

I had a call on Saturday from Arthur Pullin..........who's Arthur Pullin ? Arthur built my green caravan named "Joker 11" in 1956/57
and used it for 41years with RACV Caravan Club until I purchased the van in 1999.
www.vintagecaravans.com/joker_11.htm

On Saturday just gone he was celebrating his 99th birthday ........ yeah .. that's right ......his NINETY NINTH birthday ........and incredibly
..... he & his wife Pat,also aged 99, are STILL caravanning ........

They leave on December 23 to head down to South Australia from Victoria to attend the "National Australian Caravan Rally" .......a bi annual event
......Arthur will be driving his Ford LTD with "Joker 111" in tow,.........a caravan he purchased brand new in 1999.

AND Arthur is as sharp as ever ......he was phoning me to correct me re the article in this month's ACMM that features "Joker2"..........
it was stated that I removed some non original items from the caravan, one being a plastic towell rack, that I thought was a later
addition. Arthur told me that it was in fact an original item he made from some plastic off cuts given to him by a
plastics manufacturing Co in 1957.
Luckily I have kept the towell rack, so it will be replaced in the van.

He also offered to give me the original "Westclox" clock that was originally mounted in Joker 11 where I now have an old clock.

So folks, some people may enjoy vintage caravanning, whilst some people simply haven't stopped caravanning .....since 1940


Mark

please enjoy the photos:



Arthur Pullin on his brand new 2 3/4 HP BSA bike bought on his 18th birthday ... 11/12/23



Arthur with the original caravan named "Joker" on a caravanning trip in 1942 .....note the spoked wheels on the van.



"Joker 1" in the early 1950's being towed by an International Ute.



Arthur & Pat Pullin with "Joker 11" in 1998



Arthur & Pat Pullin with "Joker 111" in year 2000 .....note the name signwritten on the van

[Deleted]

Hey Mark
Great stuff
Where would we be without cameras to record the good times???
Old Arty sure has had a good life. If caravanning is the secret to living to 99 then I think we are on a winner with our hobby .... waddya reckon?

How about the old BSA !!! great stuff. I sold a 1924 model to a bloke in Qld earlier this year.

Good to hear the clock has finally caught up with the van
Great story, great pictures and old Arthur and Pat are surely a great couple .

Reddo

[trev and carrots]

mark i agree with you........Arthur & pat are legends.
shame your not able to catch up with them in SA.
To me,knowing the history of a vehicle adds something special to it,but what youve got with Arthur, Pat & JOKER 11 is unique...you just cant buy that at any price........1/2 ya luck.
cheers trev

ps any members who havent seen the log book Arthur kept on the life of JOKER11 should check it out...via the above short cut provided by mark

oh yeah..happy b/day for last sat Arthur!

[Deleted]

thanks Reddo and Trev n Carrots for your comments

As for the WA contingent of vintage caravanners, if we keep partying like we did the night at Williams, I don't think I'll be still caravanning in the year 2055

[Deleted]

well the "caravanning legends" have returned from Lucindale in South Australia where they attended the National Australian Caravan Rally.

I spoke to Arthur Pullin through the week ......he advised the attention they received at the Rally was overwhelming ......his wife Pat celebrated her 99th birthday whilst at the Rally (Arthur's 99th was earlier in December) and apparently they attracted both television & newpaper media with reporters attending the event !!!!
I get the impression Arthur likes to keep a low profile, but they certainly had their day of fame.

Imagine the media response if they're still caravanning this time next year !!!

Here's a link to Arthur's "Joker 11" logbook .......as mentioned somewhere above .....

www.vintagecaravans.com/joker_log.htm

[Deleted]

I've just been informed by Bob Taylor that Arthur & Pat Pullin sold "Joker 111" a couple of months ago, and have retired from caravanning .

Sad news indeed, they're Australian Caravanning Legends, but I guess the day had to come. They are both 101 years of age.

I know they will miss their caravanning, they starting caravanning in about 1940. We wish them both a happy future

Mark






Arthur & Pat Pullin with "Joker 111" c2000

[tinnie]

Kinda sad news Mark - but in another respect it is great that they were able to caravan for 60 odd years - an achievement most would not be able to boast (unless they count caravanning as a kid). I assume then that they were still caravanning at 100! What an incredible achievement.
From memory Mark I think that the Pullin's were from Korrumburra or Leongatha area here in beautiful Gippsland?

Cheers,
Gristy

[fbmad]

101 and not out .

Now thats an innings I'd like to achieve .

Terry.

[Deleted]

Did anyone see Channel 10 news last night

A great article was shown re Arthur & Pat Pullin, with Pat turning 102 yesterday (Jan 4), both are now 102 years of age.

They don't caravan anymore, 'Joker 111' was sold last year, so what does Arthur do now ......plays the stockmarket on his computer of course

Also the print media have been doing some stories:

"WITH almost 204 years between them, Arthur and Pat Pullin are world beaters.

Arthur turned 102 on Tuesday. Pat celebrates her 102nd on January 4.
That tally puts them at, or very near, the top of the world's oldest surviving couples list."

continued via the following link..........

www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22920302-910,00.html

Mark

ps .....apologies, the link hasn't fully pasted .....you'll need to key in part of it

does anyone know if we can watch last nights news via "youtube"?

[Deleted]

I'm impressed Col ......the 7 news article is better than the 10 news article anyway .......it shows pics of "Joker11" and "Joker"