RETIREMENT LIVING
GARDENING GURU BARBARA WICKES HAS PLANTED ROOTS AT B BY HALCYON
DOWNSIZING FOR A WHOLE NEW LIFE Queensland couple Les and Karen Taylor didn’t expect to fall in love with GemLife and move into an over-50s lifestyle resort. It was merely by chance that the couple came across GemLife Pacific Paradise. In fact, it was their friends who were looking for over-50s communities to downsize. “I offered to look around the Sunshine Coast for them, I wasn’t even looking for us, but when we saw the concept, we thought, ‘This is too good to be true.’ Les, 69 and Karen, 56, reveal what sold them on GemLife. “There were three things that decided us,” Les explained. “First was the financial flexibility. Downsizing from a family home to this provides financial flexibility for our retirement. “Second, it’s a secure, gated environment. It provides us with the ability to lock up and leave when we go travelling in our caravan. Also, there’s an age difference between Karen and me. I fell off a ladder recently and cracked my head open and it made me think, ‘If something happens to me, Karen won’t have to worry about maintenance, she’ll have people around and she’ll be safe.’ “Third, was the opportunity to be more socially active with like-minded people.” “We’re 2km from a beach with a surf club and restaurant precinct. We can
cycle there. We also have a shopping complex with supermarket, pharmacy, hairdresser, and newsagents just 500 metres down the road – so we don’t even have to get the car out. As a tradie, Les was impressed by the quality of the build. “The finish of the plaster work and painting was exceptional as was the quality of the exterior. It was bittersweet to move out of their family home in Noosaville, which Les had built himself. . “There was always something that needed to be done,” says Les. Les and Karen are getting ready to move into their three-bedroom, twobathroom home in GemLife Pacific Paradise with their pet dog. Homes in Stage Two at GemLife Pacific Paradise over 50s lifestyle resort are now selling. Other resorts on the Sunshine Coast include GemLife Maroochy Quays and Palmwoods. Call 1800 317 393 or visit www.gemlife.com.au
As an avid gardener with more than 40 years’ experience designing and displaying cottage gardens, Barb Wickes was excited to create a masterpiece at her new home at B by Halcyon (QLD). For 23 years, Barb and her husband, Rex, created and tended to a stunning garden in Buderim. The garden was complete with a Monet-inspired bridge and waterlilycovered lake, which featured on the ABC’s Gardening Australia in 2016. The duo sold their Mediterraneanstyle home and moved into B by Halcyon in January 2021, downsizing from their 7,500sqm subtropical garden oasis to a 500sqm plot. “I am enjoying the maintenance of a small garden, which is much more manageable and is pretty to look at from all areas,” she explained. “I’m finding my time spent in the garden is more productive as I can keep an eye on the plants, prune as needed and move plants around to fit the space.” Her tranquil back garden contains a considered selection of polyantha and Australian roses, salvias, camellia and hydrangea bushes, shrubs with burgundy foliage and perennial varieties such as agapanthus, asters, daylilies, dwarf grasses and begonias, to name a few. One of the first Australian gardeners
to champion herbs. Barb is also passionate about growing edibles in her garden. “I like to go out to my garden and pick a salad, adding colour and various tastes from subtropical vegetables and herbs,” she said. Barb co-founded The Perennial Poppies Group in 2000. The group has members from around South East Queensland, and she is keen to establish a gardening club at B by Halcyon. “Sharing is important too, and I hope this is what the gardening club will do. I’m very happy to share cuttings from my garden and interest others to grow plants. “It’s nice to be able to pick a posy of flowers from your garden for your neighbour,” Barbara says. For more information go to the website: lifebeginsathalcyon.com.au or phone 1800 560 768.
STEPS TO BUYING A UNIT IN A RETIREMENT VILLAGE HERE is a few pointers to think about as you shop around and think about where you want to live and what sort of village might suit you best. When you start comparing villages, ask lots of questions and try to speak to existing residents about what it is like to live in their village. You may wish to think about whether: • the amenities and facilities that the village has to offer suit you • the housing options in the village suit
your needs; for example, whether the rooms are big enough and the kitchen is to your liking • the location of the village is close to family and friends, shops, transport, medical facilities • they offer emergency call services • pets are allowed • family and friends can stay over • they provide social activities you would like to join Compare different villages
Retirement Villages in Queensland are required to have a website and a Village Comparison Document for prospective residents to review. This document will enable you to view and compare features of different villages. When you find a village that you are interested in living in, you can ask the scheme operator for a Prospective Costs Document. This document must be provided to you at least 21 days before you decide to enter into a contract. The PCD refers to a specific unit
in the retirement village and gives details about the village. By law, you must have a copy of your residence contract, VCD and PCD, the village by-laws and any other required documents for at least 21 days before you and the operator enter into the residence contract. Source and for more info got to: qld. gov.au/housing/buying-owning-home/ housing-options-in-retirement
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Our Local Aged Care Residences:
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Bribie Cove | Bongaree 199–213 Goodwin Drive
CapellaBay | Capalaba 260 Old Cleveland Rd East
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The Ormsby | Buderim 112 Burnett Street 33 Newmans Road, Templestowe 441 Waterfall Gully Road, Rosebud
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Sunshine Coast
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