Quote:
Originally Posted by whynot
I have heard some interesting first hand accounts of Grey Nomads with complex medical histories wandering into an outback medical centres, demanding on the spot prescriptions. Then cracking a major hissy fit because A) the local doctors are busy dealing with higher priority cases and you will have to wait a few hours, and B) the next nearest doctor is 200km away, and C) only a specialist can prescribe those drugs (and, no, you shouldn’t mix Sildenafil with that medication), and D) because the Grey Nomad wants certain script X, you will have to wait a day or two for it to come in from the nearest regional centre.
From what I can gather, the residents in most outback towns consider Grey Nomads – as distinct from the general tourists - more trouble than they are worth. Sure, minimizing expenses while on the road is one thing. But the Grey Nomad hardly spend a cent in the regional areas, and then expect capital city services from the locals with McDonald’s drive through speed, price, and efficiency.
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I have heard complaints about their use of the very limited medical resources. I know with some things, like flu vaccines, first question they ask on the phone is "are you a local?" They only get so much of it and it's for the locals.
I have no doubt the local chemist would get some complaints, because anything not on hand, it's about a week's wait.
I would disagree that most nomads don't spend money. Some don't. Some have put everything they've got into getting a 4wd and a caravan and they are living on the pension.
Before I moved to the outback I visited a few forums, including grey nomad forums, and there were people proudly discussing how they free camped and didn't spend a cent in the town.
But honestly, try going to the pub when the nomads are coming through. The place is packed to the rafters.
I work at a tourist destination and there are plenty of nomads spending plenty of money. Some grey nomads are driving a tired old ute pulling a caravan built in the 80s, but there's plenty of nomads driving imported utes worth 6 figures dragging huge caravans behind them worth just as much. Not every retiree is struggling for cash.
But, I do have a funny story re expecting capital city services.
I was working at a site 110km from the nearest town (where I live). Remote enough we stay onsite for 10 days at a time when working there.
Used to be you could only get water there, assuming there was any in the rain tanks, but we put in a cafe. You can get ice creams, pies, drinks, and, coffee out of a machine. We resupply it ourselves once a week when a staff changeover happens.
This guy rocks up one morning, asks if we make coffees. I said the machine makes coffee. He was incredulous. A machine? Not a barista?
He screamed, that's not good enough! Literally stomped his feet, then stormed out.
Didn't actually buy a ticket for the attraction or anything, just rocked up to an isolated building in the middle of nowhere and expected a barista.