Community spirit flourishes at Winzor Retirement Estate

You can mostly find ECH Winzor Retirement Estate resident Martin chatting to everyone he meets.

His friendly nature has seen him develop a passion for connecting with people and keeping the social spirit of the village flourishing.

Martin, and his wife Stella, moved into the village in December 2020 where they enjoyed getting to know residents but wanted to grow the social calendar.

The village has had several craft groups over the years, who have knitted teddies and donated them to the Royal Flying Doctors. They’ve also made cards for the troops in Afghanistan, that soliders could then use to write a note home to their families back home.

Martin says there is always room for more people to get involved.

“A lot of people support us by coming to the events, but they are unable to physically help so we rely on the same people to do the heavy lifting – we want more people to become involved, so we all share the load,” he says.

“I think it is so important for the residents to get together, it’s for their wellbeing. We are a secure village so more of the independent residents like to go out in groups rather than on their own; these events and activities are an opportunity to go out and meet others.

“Everyone is very proud of this village – it’s their village and we try to encourage that.”

Since late 2021, Martin has been the driving force behind an informal social group which meets on a Sunday afternoon to discuss events for the village.

“Sometimes we get six people coming along but other times, we can get as many as 18. Everyone is welcome to join.

“In November last year we travelled to Murray Bridge and went on the

Captain Proud for a three-hour cruise and then went to Woodside and visited Melba’s Chocolate Factory.

“We also have regular trivia and pizza nights that are well supported as well as live entertainment, and we are keen to invite a broader range of reporters over time.”

To celebrate Christmas last year, a group of residents organised an afternoon tea where crafts were on display.

Everyone brought a plate of food to share and enjoyed the company of others. ECH Chief Executive Claire Scapinello was the special guest where she mingled with residents and heard lovely village stories.

“Everyone was really pleased with how it went, it went better than anticipated. We are so grateful that everyone chips in but the success of it does tire you out,” Martin laughs.

However, there are lots of different ways – some big, some small – that will really go a long way to helping us live a more sustainable way of life.

Here are some ways you can make your home eco-friendlier.

Turn It Off

Reduce your energy consumption by switching your electronics when not in use to off instead of on standby.

DON’T WASTE FOOD

In Australia, 7.6 million tonnes of food is lost or wasted annually1. Reduce your food wastage by planning ahead and only buying what you need. Create a shopping list or take photos of the inside of your fridge and cupboards to help remind you of what’s already there. Also, ensure you maximise your freezer to keep food for longer.

Compost

If you have let your food go that little bit too far past its best by then you could compost it. Not only will this help create a natural fertiliser, it will also reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. If you don’t have a compost bin, then you can put food scraps into your home green organics bin either loose, wrapped in newspaper or compostable bags.

Try To Cut Out Plastic

For most of us, bringing a canvas bag to the supermarket has become a habit, but plastic bags are not the only plastic items you can reduce. Opt for fruit, vegetables, and other items with minimal to no packaging when shopping.

Use Led Light Bulbs

Not only do LED light bulbs last longer than conventional bulbs, they’re far more efficient too. This means that you’ll be using less power and having to replace your light bulbs less frequently.