VALE INDUSTRY
GREAT!
Kevin O'Brien was a founding director
of what is now known as Caravan
Industry Association of Australia.
The Australian RV industry is mourning the
death of one if its greatest stalwarts, Kevin
O’Brien.
Mr O’Brien died in mid May at the age of 80.
The Caravan Industry Association of Australia
hailed Mr O’Brien as an industry ‘gentleman’
who would be sadly missed.
Mr O’Brien was a caravanning entrepreneur
who in 1963 identified the need for a
specialised caravan repair business – Classic
Caravan Repair Centre.
In 1972, he restructured and launched a
separate wholesale business, Camec which
was subsequently purchased by Fleetwood
in 2000.
The Caravan Industry Association of Australia
said Mr O’Brien gave “tremendously to the
caravanning industry, sharing his knowledge
freely, and serving on both the Caravan Trade
and Industries Association of Victoria board
as well as being a founding director of what is
now known as Caravan Industry Association
of Australia”.
Such was his industry contribution,
Kevin O'Brien received the Eric
Hayman Award in 1995.
Mr O’Brien was president of both
organisations during his time on each board.
In 1995, he was awarded the Eric Hayman
Award for Excellence (the industry’s highest
individual honour) and was awarded a life
membership by CTIAV and inducted into its
Hall of Fame.