Back in the day: Gordon Smillie (left)
with Bert and Patti Newton.
THE RV INDUSTRY
MOURNS TRUE ICON
The Australian RV industry is mourning the death
of one of its icons and pioneers, Gordon Smillie.
In 1962, Gordon founded what has become
Australia’s largest caravan insurer, CIL Insurance
and became recognised as a true pioneer of the
caravan industry. The story goes that Gordon was
having a beer at the pub when a nearby patron
asked him what he did for a living.
When he said he was in insurance, the gentleman
– a local caravan dealer – told him in no uncertain
terms how unreasonable he thought it was that
no one insured caravans. Gordon had to agree,
and that’s how CIL Insurance, then called C.I.L.
Brokerage Pty Ltd, came to be.
Among other initiatives adopted by the popular
Scotsman in the 1970s was a unique approach to
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promoting caravanning and safety, by filming fun,
educational films with TV personalities, including
Bert Newton and Johnny Young.
Gordon was an active board member of the
Caravan Industry Association of Victoria for more
than 20 years. He was made a life member in
1976 for his contribution to the industry and was
awarded the industry’s highest individual honour
in 2012 when he was inducted into the Victorian
Caravan Industry Hall of Fame. He was also a life
member of the South Australian Caravan and
Camping Association.
“He truly was a pioneer of our industry, with many
of his marketing initiatives still relevant today after
50 years,” Robert Lucas, chief executive officer of
the Victorian Caravan Industry Association said.