Park managers in for long haul

•  New managers Rodney Dent and Susan Waldren survey their domain at the Bridport Seaside Caravan Park. 

By Tony Scott
December 22, 2021

The new managers of the Bridport Seaside Caravan Park are looking forward to their first busy summer season from the other side of the caretakers’ desk.

Six weeks into their job Susan Waldren and Rodney Dent reflect on their own camping holidays at the popular summer destination.

“It’s been a special place for us,” Susan said.

“When the tender came up we were at a stage of looking for a change so we jumped at it.

“We’re wanting to have a park that families can come and enjoy, have a relaxing time and make the memories that will last a lifetime.”

The couple have come from a varied background to working in the visitor economy.

Susan has had some experience in management and hospitality but has spent much of her working life in Community Education, while Rodney comes from 30 plus years in the timber industry.

Their first six weeks at Bridport has been spent getting the park into tip top condition.

“There’s a lot of mowing over a park that’s two kilometres long,” Rodney said.

“And the grass has been growing like mad through the wet spring.

“It will slow up a bit now it’s drier and mowing would be a bit harder once we’re full.”

In fact the park’s more than 250 spaces are booked out from Boxing Day and only limited availability for powered or unpowered sites for January.

Part of the memory making will be a range of activities available through the parks reception office and kiosk.

“We’ll be offering face painting for the littlies through January and we’ve got all sorts of equipment for hire, like backyard or beach games, racquets, boogie boards and bikes even a tandem,” Susan said.

They have hired three locals to make a team of five all pitching in for a turn at the different tasks.

“It means we get a chance to get outside.

“We both like walking to keep fit so there can be quite a bit of that, and besides it’s the best way to meet some of the campers and see how they’re getting on.”

She’s expecting to be able to maintain a safe and family-friendly vibe for the park by insisting on three-night minimums at the most popular times over Christmas, new year and Australia Day.

“We won’t be taking bookings for two people in a tent and having 25 turn up.”

Part of the refurbishment of the kiosk has been the inclusion of an ice creamery stocking Tasmanian-made Valhalla ice cream.

It’s expected to be a summer time attraction for locals as well as campers.

The Dorset Council-owned park has had a chequered history with managers in recent years, but Susan said they’ve set themselves a goal of at least seeing out their tender through to mid 2025.