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Spring 2014 Edition IN THIS ISSUE The Gold Coast’s Residents shine biggest backyard at the Annual What’s Hot: Seachange is now at Check out our Art & Craft Seachange! new website! Exhibition DIRECTORS WELCOME David Pradella Managing Director I recently attended the Seachange Art and Craft Exhibition and was privileged to witness our community at work – what a wonderful experience it was. At its core Seachange was built Five years on and this platform that was no more evident than to be an active adult community, at Seachange has made it one of seeing how the social committee inspired by villages in Florida - Australia’s premier active adult and their support team of over the retirement capital of the USA. communities for over 50’s. The one hundred volunteers regularly Our goal was to create a platform people who live in this community host events such as the Art and where people can interact deliver our ‘vision’ that makes it Craft Exhibition that makes meaningfully at a number of successful. an active adult community the levels encompassing the mind, It’s people that make antithesis of a retirement village. body and soul. organisations great and for me Life really begins at 50! 5-Star Country Club Floodlit Tennis Courts Quite a turnout at the Arts & Craft Expo Residents shine at the annual Seachange Art & Craft Exhibition New residents tell how the decision to move to Seachange was an easy one Resident recommendations generate strong family response Latest News Seachange residents love their home’s view over SPRING 2014 the community’s enormous 69ha ‘backyard’ Choosing where you live can Over 50. Why provide you with piece of mind around security, amenity and how you live is access to transport and local Phil Goodman services; choosing how you live Development important is a concept that encompasses Manager Baby Boomers are driving a surge the mental, social and physical wellbeing of people and in demand for Over 50’s housing more likely to enjoy retirement communities. on the Gold Coast attracted by when they finally take it with the sunny climate and outdoor The Australian Institute of Health fewer health care needs, less lifestyle. and Welfare report recognises chronic diseases and disability. that the key factors that influence Matthew Gross, head of National Seachange provides purchasers older Australians’ ability to Property Research, says that the opportunity to downsize and maintain good health is adequate these Over 50’s Villages are remove the burden of home, and and safe housing and a physical popular because they offer Baby become part of an active, adult environment that facilitates Boomers a haven where the community that offers them a independence and mobility. amenity is far superior to where lifestyle that adds to their health they used to live. Baby Boomers Active older Australians are less and wellbeing. are searching for something that likely to leave the workforce for Why not drop in and ask our will take them away from the health reasons; they remain a residents why they love how typical suburban destination. contributor to society and are they live? Welcome from the new Community Manager at Seachange Village. Robert Eyears I am Robert Eyears, the new to introducing myself to new Community Community Manager at residents coming into the village. Manager Seachange Village. I have vast experience in the Since starting work here, I have operation and management of certainty is that there is always enjoyed meeting and getting to large strata buildings, from 80 a learning day! We all set out know each of the residents and to over 600 apartments, resorts to achieve many things, but their families. They have made and hospitality venues and am that changes when you need to me feel so welcome. One thing I extremely well equipped to meet assist with residents, families, really enjoy is finding out each the needs of the ever-expanding staff and any maintenance of their life stories, which they Seachange community. emergencies. At the end of the enjoy sharing. I am very proud In recognition of the growth of day the community’s needs are to be part of Seachange Village the community, a new position my priority everything else takes Arundel and always look forward has been created, second place. with Susan Acott I have enjoyed looking at what I appointed Assistant can do to help enhance the life of to the Community the residents within our village, Manager. Susan building rapport with them and comes from a strong ensuring they feel that they are property management being heard. Potential residents background. and their families are always a joy There is never a to meet and I take great pride in “normal day” working showing them our village. There in this industry. One is never a dull moment and every Robert and his Assistant Susan Acott thing I can say with day is a new adventure! Seachange resident, Jill Henderson, was awarded the coveted “Overall Outstanding Residents Show Entry – Neil Johnson Perpetual Award” and also “Best Craft Work” for her cross stitch “Factual Clock”. The Neil Johnson Perpetual shine award was dedicated to late Seachange - AT THE ANNUAL - resident, Neil Johnson, who developed a love of art during his time at Seachange. Neil’s widow, Lyn Johnson, was on hand to Seachange Art & present the award, resulting in barely a dry eye in the house. Craft Exhibition Other award winners for the evening included Stephen Hinchy for his handcrafted wooden rocking horse and Mary Tyquin for her painting, “Autumn Leaves”. The “People’s Choice” award went The annual Art and Craft to Janice Tomsett for her lovely water Exhibition held in August colour. The exhibition is another example of was bigger and better this how Seachange residents are actively year, following on from last involved in both their own community and also the broader community. Proceeds from year’s roaring success. the exhibition were donated to Gold Coast homeless charity, Rosies. The Exhibition and cocktail party featured 17 categories showcasing the original work of Seachange residents. “This is one of our major and most popular events for the year,” said Brian Dawson, Social Club Coordinator. “With our own art room, sewing room and workshop, all located in the Country Club, residents are very active producing an incredible array of high quality art and craft work.” Gold Coast artistic identities conducted the judging, including well-known, local painter, Velia Newman. Painting categories included acrylic, oil, water colour, pastel, drawing, charcoal, and pen and ink. Craft categories included cross stitch and tapestry, quilts and appliqué, knitting, crochet and weaving, cards, jewellery, and turned and handcrafted wood work “Gold Coast artistic identities conducted the judging, including well-known, local painter, Velia Newman.” Making the Move The decision to move to an over 50’s active lifestyle resort was an easy one for Peter and Caroline Townsend, new residents at Seachange Village, Arundel. “We both still work in our own business and had “The beautiful, well equipped a big family home on Brisbane’s south side. Most of our free time was taken up with gardening and Country Club and very active maintenance, leaving very little time for social activities,” Caroline said. resident’s social committee “After looking at many over 50’s villages in South sealed our decision” East Queensland, we chose Seachange. The what activities to join in with and what shows beautiful, well equipped Country Club and very and events to attend. Regular activities available active residents’ social committee sealed our include yoga, tai chi, line dancing, Zumba, decision,” she said. The convenient location of bridge, scrabble, mahjong, outdoor and indoor Seachange is a bonus and we love our new home.” bowls, billiards, tennis, sewing, painting, wood The first major event Peter and Caroline attended working, gardening, swimming…not to mention was the recent Seachange Art and Craft Exhibition. the many special interest groups and also classes “We really enjoyed the Exhibition and having conducted by the University of the Third Age in the opportunity to meet other residents the Seachange Country Club. and strengthen the new friendships “I have a special interest in computers and we have already made in only three IT,” said Peter. “I mentioned this to some weeks,” said Caroline. new friends and we have already While Peter and Caroline received interest from 40 residents settle in to their new home, in forming a computer and they are busy deciding technology group”. Our 5-Star Country Club L-R: Paul Shepherd, Harold & Annette McLean with daughter, Jennifer Shepherd Resident recommendations generate strong family response Residents at Seachange Village enjoy the vibrant “The main motivators for the move to Seachange lifestyle so much they actively encourage their included security, the compact design of their family and friends to join them, with over 200 sales new home, access to shops and the medical centre enquiries generated by resident referrals. across the road and being five minutes drive to the The Village is renowned for its strong sense of new Gold Coast Hospital. Being also able to live community and vibrant lifestyle and has a vast calendar of activities and events available at its “Over 200 sales enquiries have 5 star Country Club. Residents boast of the new friends they make and the number of great, like- been generated by resident minded individuals who live in the community. referrals alone.” Resident, Jennifer Shepherd, said she and her husband Paul loved living at Seachange so much with family and friends in a community of like- that they persuaded her parents to also make minded people was an added bonus.