Time to Roam Magazine Issue 5 - October/November 2013 | Page 12

| letters feedback Above and below: Modern Caravans on display in Perth in the 1950s along with a 1970s Modern-branded motor home. Modern Mystery solved Our story on WA-built Modern Caravans drew a huge response and was followed up by Radio 6PR in Perth, prompting many calls from people eager to share information on the company. It turns out the story of the man behind Modern Caravans, Peter Fomiatti is as remarkable as the classic vehicles he built. Born in Italy in 1900, Peter Fomiatti came to Australia as a boy and started out as a market gardener in the Wanneroo area. After the war, he had the idea of using the chassis from surplus war vehicles to make caravans and the business grew from there. In its later years, Modern was best known for its huge caravan hire business, said to have one of the world’s largest fleets. The manufacturing plant moved from Tuart Hill to Bassendean, specialising in building mobile units for mining exploration ventures rather than caravans for leisure. That’s no record, maybe this is Re your Coronet Caravan review story (TTR Aug /Sept) “Heritage Brand, Quality Marque”. More particularly I refer to the second paragraph which I quote, “it’s not far from where Millards have been built for almost 70 years, possibly holding the longevity for all Australia’s caravan brands”. I believe you should get in touch with Roma Caravans of Campbellfield VIC. They have been building caravans since 1928. More remarkable is this company has been owned by the same family from the start. That clocks up to 85 years, though I would be hesitant to suggest they are yet 12 www.timetoroam.com.au the record holders for longevity. There is a warning here about making unsubstantiated assumptions in print. Otherwise, Time to Roam is an excellent magazine. Alan Bebee, Traralgon, VIC We stand corrected and suitably chastised thanks Mr Bebee. We look forward to profiling the Roma Caravan story in an upcoming issue and wonder can any other company beat this incredible 85 year record? - Ed. Former Modern Caravans employee, Keith Plozza is one of many,who contacted Time to Roam after hearing about the story. Keith began his career with Peter Fomiatti just as Modern Caravans was starting out in the early 1950s. He writes; “Peter was a generous and well respected man. He financed most of the workers’ vehicles and he was only too happy to offer any sort of help they needed. He treated all the workers as family and the whole business felt very family- orientated. Often, on Fridays when we knocked off, he would put a keg on and his wife would make up sandwiches so we could have a few beers after work. By the way, Peter gave me my first job and I will always be very grateful. Peter died aged 92.” We look forward to sharing more information and photos on WA’s Modern Caravan story in an upcoming issue. Rod Bruem [email protected] time to roam australia welcomes letters, photos and contributions from our readers on just about any subject that relates to caravanning and camping . [email protected]