textdi.com - Sharon has spent the better part of a year preparing for what she describes as a long-overdue reward — a full lap of Australia in a custom-fitted van she's poured more than $65,000 into.But rising fuel prices have thrown a spanner into her plans."I set the [petrol] budget at about $8,000 to do around 30,000 to 35,000kms," the 54 year-old told SBS News."Then the fuel went up and it's still going up every minute of every day "Some of the trip that I've sketched out, I'd have to fill up every day for six days."I wanted to be able to just have the freedom to drive around the country and enjoy it, instead of going, 'Oh, I better check to see where the petrol is'."For others, the fuel crisis is landing on ground that was already unstable.Sharilee, a grandmother and mother of four, lives in her van on the streets of Brisbane — not by choice, but because she has nowhere else to go

For Australia's 'vanlifers', the fuel crisis is a headache — or a threat to survival

Sharon has spent the better part of a year preparing for what she describes as a long-overdue reward — a full lap of Australia in a custom-fitted van she's poured more than $65,000 into.But rising fuel prices have thrown a spanner into her plans."I set the [petrol] budget at about $8,000 to do around 30,000 to 35,000kms," the 54 year-old told SBS News."Then the fuel went up and it's still going up every minute of every day "Some of the trip that I've sketched out, I'd have to fill up every day for six days."I wanted to be able to just have the freedom to drive around the country and enjoy it, instead of going, 'Oh, I better check to see where the petrol is'."For others, the fuel crisis is landing on ground that was already unstable.Sharilee, a grandmother and mother of four, lives in her van on the streets of Brisbane — not by choice, but because she has nowhere else to go