Cover story

COVER STORY From Robina apartment to a ready made community

MEGAN FRAHM FOUND THE CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY SHE CRAVED AT HALCYON RISE

Megan Frahm , Halcyon Rise

After downsizing from a fourbedroom house in Varsity Lakes, Megan found living in a two-bedroom apartment in Robina on her own was isolating and lonely.

When COVID hit last year and restrictions brought an end to her group activities such as book clubs, knitting groups and social card games, Megan found her world became even smaller without her social network and family nearby. “I lived in an apartment by myself for three years and it was a reclusive kind of existence,” Megan said. “I’m a very social person so my experience of apartment living prompted the move to Halcyon and now my life has improved dramatically because there are people here who actually care. “At any age, it can be intimidating to fi nd a community outside of family, work or hobbies, so I welcomed the opportunity to move into Halcyon Rise and have activities, groups and a built-in community on site.” As one of the fi rst homeowners at Halcyon Rise, Megan is now involved in several social activities including a craft group and helped to set up the onsite library. “We also have a happy hour every Thursday where we talk and laugh and because of that, we know each other,” she said. Megan is looking forward to the completion of the onsite recreational facilities at Halcyon Rise, which includes a heated lap pool, walking and cycling tracks, pickleball courts, full-size bowling green and a fully equipped gym. “I’m very excited for the facilities to be completed and my goal is to go swimming, try the exercise workouts, play pickleball and learn to play bowls – there is just so much to do.” The location of Halcyon Rise at Logan Reserve was also a plus for Megan, off ering safety within the gated community as well as being close to both Brisbane and the Gold Coast where her son and daughter live respectively. “Everything is so close and you don’t need to leave your community to fi nd everything you need within the neighbourhood of Logan Reserve,” she said. While Megan was ready to make the move from apartment living to a lifestyle community, she recommends that people do their research fi rst and to fi nd out whether this style of living is suited to their needs. “I have nothing to regret about moving to an over 50s lifestyle community because Halcyon Rise has the security, community and connection with like-minded people that I was looking for,” Megan said. “Everyone I’ve spoken to at Halcyon says they wish they had moved here sooner.”

Family duo fi nd new friends

MOTHER-AND-DAUGHTER DUO THANGAM AND MEERA NAIR FOUND THEIR FOREVER HOME

Thangam and Meera Nair hadn’t planned on downsizing so soon, but when the upkeep of their four-bedroom home and pool in Springwood became too much, Meera said she was sold on the Halcyon lifestyle concept.

“I looked into Halcyon and I liked the fact that the house belongs to you and if you sell, the capital gains are yours and there are no exit or management fees,” Meera said. The Nairs were among the fi rst homeowners at Halcyon Rise, located in Logan Reserve, nestled between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The duo selected a three-bedroom, single-level home that would allow easy accessibility for Thangam, who has diffi culty with stairs. Meera said the spacious and comfortable home is light and bright with plenty of space for peace of mind as they age and require additional mobility assistance in the future. “It feels like a home – like you are coming home to a normal house in a normal suburb, but with the added benefi ts of security in a gated community,” Meera said. Thangam and Meera have settled into Halcyon Rise and enjoy the warm and welcoming community atmosphere and getting to know their neighbours. “We lived in our old house in Springwood for 10 years and hardly knew our neighbours – we didn’t have the time as our lives were moving so quickly and separately,” Meera said. “We’re at a stage in our lives now where we are mostly at home, so when we do walk around Halcyon Rise and bump into others it makes a diff erence – and that’s what this community is about. “It makes you feel good to have a conversation with people who have time for you as well.”

Thangam and Meera Nair, Halcyon Rise

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