Noel’s Caravans owner Noel Faggotter diagnosed with terminal illness

The founder of one of South Australia’s best known businesses has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

The owner of an iconic South Australian business has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Noel Faggotter, owner of Noel’s Caravans, is battling a terminal brain tumour after being diagnosed with the illness in March last year.

Mr Faggotter’s partner Rose Dunn said the diagnosis had come as a “shock”.

“It’s very, very sad,” Ms Dunn said.

“It’s just a very sad thing.”

Mr Faggotter opened his iconic business at Pooraka in 1974 in 1983 he launched the Island Star brand.

Legendary South Australian football identities Malcolm Blight and the late Neil Kerley have both been ambassadors for the iconic business.

In 2019, Kerley handed the reins to Blight after being a long-time face of the business.

Noel Faggotter pictured with Malcolm Blight and Neil Kerley. Picture: Supplied

Ms Dunn said Mr Faggotter had planned to buy a home in Darwin and retire in the Top End before his diagnosis.

“He’s accepted it,” Ms Dunn said.

“He’s a very, very honest and caring man and Noel never ever complains.

“He was always an honest and straight to the point business man, always.

Mr Faggotter is still the director, sole shareholder and owner of his business.

“He loves his yard,” Ms Dunn said of Mr Faggotter’s business, which is now based at Green Fields.

“Next year it would have been in business for 50 years,” Ms Dunn said.

Noel Faggotter founded Noel’s Caravans in 1974. Picture: Supplied

Ms Dunn said Mr Faggotter had undergone chemotherapy and other treatments but the tumour had grown onto his brain and could not be fully removed.

She said Mr Faggotter struggled to talk and communicate as his health worsened.

Ms Dunn said doctors had not given Mr Faggotter a final date but he was “taking it a day at a time”.

Mr Faggotter’s caravan park at Blanchetown was destroyed in the Murray River floods at the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023.

“One of his biggest wishes is that he would have loved to see his caravan park back up and running,” Ms Dunn said.

Ms Dunn said what happened to the iconic business after Mr Faggotter’s eventual passing was a “wait and see” situation.

In August 2020, Mr Faggotter told The Advertiser he had not seen a time when caravans were more popular amid a boom in regional SA tourism during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is such a sensational lifestyle,” he said.

“Once people discover it they’ll want to do it more. The caravans of today are a lot better than the caravans of yesteryear. You’re staying in a luxury, five-star room every night.”