Get on your bike

LAKESIDE’S E-BIKE CRAZE TAKES OFF DURING COVID-19

The look of “pure joy” on Sandy Chadwick’s face when she started riding her e-bike around Halcyon Lakeside was the inspiration for more than 30 other homeowners to buy their own.

“When the pool closed during lockdown, I knew I had to get some exercise another way and the second I got my bike, I was on it all the time and then everyone wanted one,” she said. “Everybody said that when they saw me riding, the look of pure joy was the incentive for them to go and buy one themselves. “It went around the place so fast and now we have at least 30 to 40 people who now own e-bikes.” While not an official group, homeowners from Lakeside’s “bikie gang” as they are affectionately known, can be found riding around the community or around Bli Bli. Sandy said her arthritis and double knee replacement means it is difficult for her to walk for long distances comfortably. “I always ride through the community and then outside of the gates around the lakes at least twice a day,” she said.”It has given me my legs back and the freedom to just get up and go, which has been very powerful for me.” Sandy said she bought her four-wheeler bike, which does have a motor but also needs to be pedalled for it to move. “I can use the “assist” feature on different levels but I do need to pedal or the bike will stop,” she said. “I like that I have to pedal as it has helped my leg strength and my fitness, but the most amazing thing is the freedom I feel. “It’s given me my life back.”

Sandy Chadwick, Margi Davey and Del Tandy and her Groodle, Claire Bear, Halcyon Lakeside

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Shirley and Peter Opie, Halcyon Waters

Get your motor running

SHIRLEY AND PETER ARE MASTERING THE ART OF LIVING

Motorbike enthusiasts Shirley and Peter Opie love pulling up at a café, parking their Harley Davidson and taking their helmets off.

“I love seeing the expressions on people’s faces when they see us,” Shirley laughed. “They don’t expect us to be the age we are.” The couple, also keen caravanners, have recently moved into Halcyon Waters at Hope Island, having spent the last 20+ years living on Tamborine Mountain after immigrating from New Zealand 30 years ago.

Plac

“We love it,” Shirley said. “It’s a beautiful community and we are meeting lots of lovely people and we can’t wait to just hit the road as it’s easy to lock and go.” Peter said they have always had bikes, but this is their first Hog having previously owned Japanese bikes and a Triumph. “I had said that before I die I had to buy a Harley,” Peter said. “Everybody should own a Harley at least once in their life.” He said there was nothing better than getting out on the open road on a motorbike. “There’s nothing better than sitting up on the bike, opening up the throttle and powering it up,” he said. The couple are looking forward to getting back out on the road in their caravan as they also take the Harley with them. “We get out every chance we can get,” Shirley said. “We’ve got a proper bike trailer so we cart the Harley around with us so we can ride it in all parts of the country.” “Australia is an amazing place, there is so much to see and do, we are really so lucky.”

IT guru keeps Lakeside connected

PAUL ROGERS LOVES HELPING HIS FELLOW HOMEOWNERS WITH TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES

Words by Paul Rogers

It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to help my fellow homeowners navigate the sometimes seemingly daunting world of technology.

I am an electronics engineer and I’ve lived in the Bli Bli community for three years, and for the last two have been heavily involved in managing and improving the internal website. I’ve always had a strong interest in technology and have always found ways to use computers to help make my job and life easier. Assisted by two other homeowners, Richard Wetton and Noel McGilvray, we manage the website. I spend around one day per week working on it and have also been building its functionality. We had initially started with registrations for social events, but then extended the capability to include other activities like fitness classes in the gym. When COVID hit, this capability proved to be very useful in limiting class sizes and recording attendees without additional paperwork. Most of my website work is done from my home office, as I have three computer screens. However, I’m often asked to help out within the community and I also make ‘house calls’, where I go and help people in their homes. Normally it’s one or two calls per week where I help to sort out email problems or assist with access to the community website and facility booking system. I also maintain Classifieds, Lost or Found, and Community Maintenance Request webpages. I love technology and I believe it is an excellent way to promote communication within the community, as well as being an efficient way of conducting business. My aim is to get more people involved in the community by making it easier for them to participate in group activities and to register for social or community events. There is sometimes a barrier to learning, so I really enjoy being able to sit down, walk them through the steps until they get comfortable with it, they’re then very appreciative and that’s very rewarding. I have also developed a number of interface applications for the system including one which links the event registration portal with the cashless point of sale system at the Recreation Club’s bar. Being involved in this way is great for me as it keeps the grey matter active.