My Halcyon
DAYS
FREE
Winter 2019
Cover story Where the wild things are... Gainsborough Greens p26
Health & fitness Home owners on the road to marathon season p18
Life beginsatHalcyon.com.au
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Contents 3-5
DESIGNED FOR LIVING
6-11
WHO LIVES AT HALCYON
12-14
HALCYON
15-17
IN & AROUND
18-21
HEALTH & FITNESS
22-25
A HELPING HAND
Halcyon shines on the national stage We’re making room for your ‘home away from home’
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Daredevil Don is hooked on the freefall Wanderers find perfect home base Judy masters her trilogy dream
Halcyon’s ‘right-hand woman’ reflects on 15 years
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Baby boomers right-size Southerners heading north for their Halcyon Days
Home owners on the road to marathon season Meet the Bings, Australia’s first couple of pickleball
Home owners raise $50,000 for DV Connect Home owners saving millions with solar success Halcyon serves up a big thank you
26-28
COVER STORY
30-33
OUT & ABOUT
34-35
THAT’S FREEDOM
22
Where the wild things are… Gainsborough Greens
36-41
SOCIAL SEEN
42-43
HALCYON COMMUNITIES
Lynne and Trevor take the plunge Vision’s blokes have a big appetite for their breakfast club
Top tips for selling the family home
Halcyon Open Day Eco Encounter Event Referral Luncheon Ladies Charity High Tea DV Connect Charity Ball
Cover image: Conservationist Matt Keys with Halcyon Greens home owner Vicki Smith and grandson Louis Madden Whilst all care has been taken in the preparation of the particulars contained herein, no warranty can be given and interested parties must therefore rely on their enquiries. Prices and details correct at time of printing. Effective as at May 2019.
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Designed for living
Halcyon Lakeside home owners celebrating their win
WINNER
Australia’s Best
Na onal Awards for Excellence
2019
Halcyon shines on the national stage HALCYON LAKESIDE at Bli Bli is Australia’s best Seniors Living community after winning the accolade at the 2019 UDIA National Awards for Excellence. Lakeside prevailed in a strongly contested field of projects from across Australia to deliver Halcyon its fourth national award. The picturesque community overlooking two lakes picked up the gong just months after winning in the same category at the 2018 UDIA Qld Awards for Excellence. Halcyon joint managing director Dr Bevan Geissmann said receiving the national award in the company’s 15th anniversary year was particularly momentous. “We are enormously proud to receive peer recognition at the national level for Halcyon Lakeside,” Bevan said. “It is a milestone moment in what is a milestone year for the company. “Excellence and innovation have been the guiding lights for Halcyon’s growth and success since its inception in 2004.
“To receive acknowledgement of this calibre encourages us to keep evolving and innovating to create the best possible lifestyle for our home owners.” Halcyon Lakeside project director Chris Carley said he was thrilled that Lakeside had followed its sister development, Halcyon Landing, in winning the award. “It is gratifying that both of Halcyon’s Bli Bli communities have been acknowledged on the national stage for their excellence,” Chris said. “We couldn’t be prouder – it reflects our desire to be the best rather than the biggest.” All three of Halcyon’s Sunshine Coast communities have now won national or state UDIA awards. The award is testament to the fact that Halcyon Lakeside is the Sunshine Coast’s fastest selling lifestyle community with only five homes remaining. ■ This accolade further cements Halcyon’s status as Australia’s most awarded lifestyle community developer, having earned 19 state and national awards since 2006. 3
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Designed for living
We’re making room for your ‘home away from home’ HALCYON HAS UNVEILED a luxurious new home design with plenty of space for you and your recreational vehicle. In creating our first-ever RV homes, we’ve been inspired by Australia’s grey nomad phenomenon and the large proportion of our home owners who have a caravan, motorhome or campervan. Victorian couple Geoff and Lynn Ellis have been caravanning for more than 20 years and are looking forward to moving into the first RV home at Halcyon Lakeside at Bli Bli in August. Seeking a better lifestyle in a warmer climate, Geoff and Lynn said their decision to make the “big move north” to Halcyon Lakeside was sealed by Halcyon’s willingness to create an RV home to accommodate their 22-foot caravan. “Our caravan is very important, especially to the male member of the family,” Lynn laughed. “We’ve always had it garaged out of the weather, so Geoff’s prized possession will be well looked after inside our garage at Lakeside. “And when we go away, we can close the door and we know the community is gated and our home will be safe.
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Featuring a super-sized garage, Halcyon’s RV home allows you to comfortably and securely store your caravan, motorhome or campervan under the one roof. It makes packing up for the next road trip as easy as stepping into your garage.
“We’re looking forward to having that sort of security.”
Lakeside project director Chris Carley said the introduction of the RV-inspired home design responds to the growing popularity of the caravanning and motorhome lifestyle.
Their new home is one of three RV-friendly designs unveiled as part of the final stage of homes at Halcyon Lakeside.
“More than a third of our home owners have a caravan or motorhome, and they just love being able to take off and explore the country in this way,” Chris said.
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Lynn and Geoff Ellis “And although there’s already a dedicated caravan and motorhome storage area at Lakeside, we realise that there are home owners who want to keep their recreational vehicle even closer to home. “This innovative home design gives them the option of living under the same roof as their recreational vehicle, allowing even easier access and greater convenience.” Halcyon’s RV home designs pair one of our most popular floorplans with garage space for an RV and up to two cars in tandem. They are priced from $619,000 and will take shape on sites in a quiet cul-de-sac within Lakeside’s ultimate release, Elevation II.
It makes packing up for the next road trip as easy as stepping into your garage. Homes in the Elevation II release range in size from 185sqm to over 300sqm and are Halcyon’s largest homes to date. All homes have an 8-star energy rating and include high-end luxury inclusions, solar hot water, solar panels, ducted air-conditioning and high ceilings as standard. ■
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Daredevil Don
is hooked on the freefall
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Who lives at Halcyon
THE SKY’S THE LIMIT for the fearless Don Pearsall who can’t wait to achieve his skydiving hat-trick. Don, who lives at Halcyon Parks with wife Mary, plunged into 2019 by taking his second tandem skydive from about 3km above Caloundra in January. The New Year’s leap into thin air came just months after Don celebrated his 95th birthday with his very first skydiving adventure. “I had wanted to do one of these trips for quite a while,” he said. “I had to have a go before I got any older. “I had this guy strapped to my back and we had a freefall of about 10,000 feet before he pulled the parachute open and we floated down from there on.” While many would baulk at the thought of jumping out of a plane, Don embraced the experience, choosing to jump from the maximum height of 15,000 feet so he could freefall part of the way.
Don, who walks up to 4km each day and works out twice a week, said he had no problems getting a clearance from his doctor for his maiden jump. “He was a bit surprised that I was doing it but he wished me well for the flight and hoped that I enjoyed it,” he said. Don hopes to make his third tandem jump for his 96th birthday in August. “People talk to you as though you’re crazy to do these things,” he said. “And it is quite a shock at first but after I found it so normal, so simple and so easy that I had to do it again. “I’m definitely going again; just to be sure I know everything about it.” ■
“I wasn’t really scared, I had confidence,” he said. “The guy who was on my back does this six or eight times a day and he’d been doing that for six years. “The scariest moment is when you jump out the first time. There’s a bit of a jerk upwards but only for a couple of seconds, then you’re falling and it’s just magic.” For Don the initial freefall was an exhilarating start to an unforgettable adventure. “You don’t know what to expect, but strangely it’s terrific, really tremendous and you see so much,” he said. “We were freefalling about 180km/hour, which is pretty fast. “Then when they open the parachute it slows down and you just float and the sights are absolutely amazing; you’re looking in all different directions up and down the coast, inland and out to sea. “Everything is so clear and looks so neat and tidy from the air; it seems to be just one big pattern and looks really tremendous. “It took about 10 minutes to go from 15,000 feet to the ground, and it was so interesting.”
Don hopes to make his third tandem jump for his 96th birthday in August.
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Who lives at Halcyon
Wanderers find perfect home base
PAUL AND ELEANOR SCULLY’S shared spirit of adventure and discovery was always going to play a big role in their next life move. It was the deciding factor when they swapped an inner-city Brisbane riverside apartment for a new home in Halcyon Greens at Pimpama. “We always planned to sell our apartment at Newstead because we didn’t want to tie up that money for the rest of our lives,” Eleanor said. “At that time we had our motorhome stored but it was a 30-minute drive there and back to get to it. “Being able to bring our motorhome here to Halcyon Greens was the crowning factor for us.” Paul said he appreciates the convenience of having the motorhome securely parked just metres from their home. “It’s on your doorstep and it’s very handy – no more having to pack up the car to drive out to where the motorhome is stored,” he said. “We were really happy with that aspect and that was the ultimate reason why we ended up here.” Paul, an accountant who manages super funds, said Halcyon suited Baby Boomers still in the workforce – especially those who like to ‘lock-up and leave’ whenever they can.
Eleanor and Paul Scully
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“Lots of people here are working, so you don’t have to be retired,” he said. “It suits that demographic of people who are going into retirement but are not yet retired.
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“You have all the amenities and it’s easy to pack up for the weekend – everything’s taken care of.” The move to Halcyon Greens came almost 15 years after their first motorhome adventure in 2005. They’ve subsequently clocked up thousands of kilometres, seen spectacular sights, made great memories and are currently on their third motorhome. Eleanor has become so invested in the lifestyle that she is a director of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA), which has more than 70,000 members and is the largest caravanning club in the Southern Hemisphere. As a member of the CMCA board, Eleanor makes the decisions that enhance and support the travelling experiences and aspirations of club members across Australia. Paul is also heavily involved, helping to organise the CMCA’s annual national rallies, which can attract up to 1,000 vehicles. Eleanor speaks fondly of how life on the road brings all types of people together. “Being on the road is such a great leveller because all these people are out there doing the same thing but in a different mode of transport, whether they’re in a pop-top, a motorhome, a caravan or a camper trailer,” she said. With Paul still working full-time, the Scullys can’t roam Australia as endlessly as they would like. Instead, they’ve concentrated on exploring a few key regions.
“We spend a lot of time in particular places. You can nose and poke around, find little towns and go down tracks that you wouldn’t explore normally,” Paul said.
Halcyon Greens’ newly formed getaway group of motorhome and caravan enthusiasts is also of interest to the Scullys, who are looking forward to heading off on many more road trips.
“You travel and you find out how much there is to see. You stay two or three days somewhere and you realise you could stay for weeks. It makes you go back.”
“We’ve done the bottom half of Western Australia and Tasmania well and truly, yet we’ve only scratched the surface,” Eleanor laughed. ■
‘RV life’ tips As grey nomad season approaches, Paul and Eleanor share their favourite destinations and tips.
Favourite destinations (so far!) Tasmania – we’ve been twice. Spend as long as you can to truly explore this amazing and surprising island where there’s so much to see and do. Whale watching while crossing the Nullabor Plain was also fantastic – standing at the Head of the Bight and watching Southern Wright whales cavort with their calves in the shelter of the bay.
■ Join the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia and download their app to access valuable travel information and benefits. ■ The CMCA’s annual rallies are basically a motorhome and caravan festival that will help you learn “how to motorhome” and mix with kindred spirits. ■ It can take a while to sort out what kind of vehicle suits your needs. You have to travel to know what you’ll use and need. Our first motorhome was not comfortable enough, our second one was too big and the third one we had built to suit us. 9
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Who lives at Halcyon
Judy masters her trilogy dream COMPLETING THE FINAL INSTALMENT of her fictional trilogy is literally a dream come true for late blooming author Judy Masters. Judy’s three-book series takes readers into the lives, loves, betrayals and tragedies of a wealthy Australian family during and after World War II. The idea for the books – described as Australia’s Downton Abbey and likened to A Place to Call Home – came to Judy while she was sleeping. “The whole genesis of the story comes from a dream that I had while I was doing The Year of the Novel course through the Queensland Writers Centre in 2011,” Judy said. “The scene that I dreamt doesn’t occur until well into book two; but I worked back from that idea and constructed the story around it.” Blending imagination with historical fact and stories told to her as a child, Judy’s dream became words, then pages; and she self-published the first book, The House of Secrets: Julia’s Story, in 2015. It fulfilled Judy’s long-delayed ambition of becoming a fictional author. “When I was 14, I wasn’t pretty or popular and I was socially awkward,” she recalled. “I told my aunt I wanted to be a writer and she said, ‘first, you have to experience life’.
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Judy Masters
Winter 2019
“She was right of course.” The first instalment of Judy’s trilogy was followed up by To Love, Honour and Betray in 2017. She wrote both books while running the Australian Defence Magazine, a Brisbane-based publication that she and husband Peter founded in 1993. After retiring in late 2017, the couple moved to Halcyon Lakeside where Judy could fully focus on crafting the trilogy’s conclusion, Return to Prior Park. She was urged on by her loyal readers who kept emailing to ask when the third book was coming out. “It’s a nice pressure to have and I couldn’t keep putting them off, so I had to knuckle down and write it,” she said. “There was one lady in Western Australia who emailed me as I was writing the third book and asked me not to kill off two of the main characters; I promised her I wouldn’t. “Return to Prior Park took about six months, but it was really intense activity for about four months, including writing on Christmas Day.”
if I’m not paying attention or not answering their questions properly it’s because I’m back in my other world,” she laughed. “It is an escape and I love it. I do miss my characters now that I’ve finished writing about them. They are absolutely friends to me.”
I don’t want to inflict more misery on the world, so I like to give my readers a book that’s simply entertaining and thoughtful; a bit of escapism.
Readers were able to discover the fate of their favourite characters when the book was published in February of this year.
Counting authors such as Winston Graham (Poldark) and Colleen McCullough (The Thorn Birds) as major inspirations, Judy was destined to pen an epic family tale.
Judy admits she does become immersed in her fictional world during the writing phase.
“I enjoy that type of writing; the family saga, the romance,” she said.
“I do warn people when I’m in the middle of writing a book that
“I don’t want to inflict more misery on the world, so I like to give my
readers a book that’s simply entertaining and thoughtful; a bit of escapism.” “I think my books appeal to readers who enjoy being transported back into the fairly recent past; to a time when life was more formal. “Readers want a story they can relate to and I think that’s why my books have resonated well with a lot of regional library readers.” With the third book now done and dusted, Judy is taking a mental break from the intensity of writing and is concentrating on marketing Return to Prior Park. She is also interested in seeing the trilogy adapted to the small screen. “This could be a Netflix series or something and I will be pitching it,” she said. “I just think it has enough cinematic interest to be a replacement for A Place to Call Home. I think it would work well on that level.” ■ Judy writes under the name J Mary Masters. Her Belleville family trilogy is available through independent publisher PMA Books, Amazon and many public libraries. You will find a copy of Judy’s trilogy in each of Halcyon’s community libraries. To win a copy of her trilogy and a $100 Amazon voucher tell us in 25 words, what’s your favourite trilogy and why. Email your answer to marketing@halcyondays.com.au by 30 June 2019. 11
Winter 2019
Halcyon
Halcyon’s ‘right-hand woman’
reflects on 15 years IF YOU WANT to know anything about Halcyon, just ask Michelle Hintz.
Michelle Hintz
As the right-hand woman to company founders Dr Bevan Geissmann and Paul Melville, Michelle has seen Halcyon evolve from bold vision to award-winning industry leader. Michelle’s encyclopaedic knowledge of Halcyon goes back to its earliest days when she did a bit of everything from a small office in Beenleigh. “I was office manager, IT trouble shooter, human resources administration, personal assistant to the ‘boys’ (Bevan and Paul), bookkeeper, sales assistant, community administration, and marketing – all those roles!” she recalled. “Well and truly from its inception, Halcyon has been my second child.”
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Michelle’s first child, Justin, was just a toddler when he became part of the Halcyon ‘family’; he often played under his mum’s desk as she worked, and – along with Bevan’s kids – took part in Halcyon’s very first community open days.
Today, Halcyon has teams to do the jobs that Michelle used to juggle, and there are more than 120 staff working across South East Queensland. “We just kept growing, and honestly, I just blinked and we’re
Winter 2019
here today with an amazing team who all help to create wonderful Halcyon communities,” she said. It’s been a whirlwind 15 years filled with satisfying firsts, blissful highs, valuable lessons and formidable challenges. Now in the role of Halcyon’s paralegal, Michelle brims with stories about every aspect of the company. She even remembers when the name Halcyon was first suggested. “It was 2003 and we set up a workshop with PRDnationwide founders Archie and Gordon Douglas at their office in Southport,” she recalled. “Everyone was asked to bring to the table ideas for a name of this new company and to work out its identity and vision.
One year later, building was well underway at Halcyon Parks and they welcomed its very first home owner – a local lady, Peg Liesegang, who was affectionately known as the ‘Queen of Caloundra’. Peg turned out to be the ideal foundation home owner: proactive,
Well and truly from its inception, Halcyon has been my second child.
“Our first two salespeople came up with the name Halcyon. We went through lots and lots of options and decided on this one.
enthusiastic and the instigator of an enduring Halcyon tradition.
“I truly believe our team are able to deliver communities aligned to the definition of Halcyon. Thus Halcyon is synonymous with calm and a golden happiness, which became associated with wealth.”
“At that stage, Halcyon Parks didn’t have any facilities, so Peg decided to start a weekly Happy
“She was so social and inclusive, and obviously the best advocate for Halcyon,” Michelle said.
Hour in her garage. She would also bake scones for the staff, which was lovely.” Michelle laughs when she recalls one of her weekly trips up to Halcyon Parks with Bevan. “I was running late, and I picked up two black boots with different-sized heels as I was running out the door,” she said. “I didn’t notice my error until we were halfway up the coast, so I spent the day hobbling around the community in two different boots.” The still-small team rejoiced when Halcyon Parks earned the first of many industry awards for the company in 2006 as work got started on Halcyon Waters. As Halcyon Waters rolled out over the next few years, the Halcyon team weathered the tough market conditions brought on by the Global Financial Crisis of 2008. “It was definitely a period of time that strengthened the positive culture of the Halcyon team.” The worst of the GFC passed and despite its lingering effects, Halcyon Landing at Bli Bli kicked off and sold out within two years.
Continued on page 14
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Michelle Hintz with joint managing directors Dr Bevan Geissmann and Paul Melville Its rapid take-up gave Halcyon the confidence to ramp up its next two communities simultaneously. Michelle remembers this as another challenging time, with resources and capabilities stretched to their limits. In 2015, Halcyon took another plunge and started Halcyon Constructions Qld. “It was about having more control over quality and fulfilling our commitment to creating home owner delight,” Michelle said. A year later, Halcyon Glades home owners started playing pickleball after Bevan and Paul discovered the curiously named game during a study tour in the United States.
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That’s one of the things I love about the evolution of this company: the growth.
The first purpose-built pickleball court in Australia was installed at Halcyon Glades and others have popped up at Halcyon Lakeside and Halcyon Greens.
housing for women and children affected by domestic violence.
“We weren’t sure how this would be received but we brought in the pickleball experts, Keith and Sharon Bing, and the rest is history,” Michelle said.
“The resources and timing were right for DV Connect,” she said.
The pioneering spirit endures with Halcyon Greens – the largest project to date and Australia’s first golf and lifestyle community for over 50s. 2019 will also see Halcyon and fellow developer Mirvac’s DV Connect project come to fruition; creating secure, purpose-built
To Halcyon, it’s a way of giving back that we could only have dreamed of 15 years ago.
“That’s one of the things I love about the evolution of this company: the growth. “In those junior years you’re learning from your mistakes – you skin your knee and jump back up. “Whereas now, we are seriously like this teenager – we’ve got tools, we’ve got resources, wisdom and life experience to draw on and go forward. The future is bright.” ■
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In & around
Baby boomers
right-size WE’VE WELCOMED 100 future home owners in the past 50 days as more and more Baby Boomers choose to right-size their home and upsize their lifestyle at Halcyon. Despite talk of a drop in the market and the disruption of the federal election, Halcyon continues to experience strong buyer interest in our seven communities. Everyone’s motivations vary; some are freeing up cash, many are looking for a vibrant yet low maintenance way of life, and others want to live somewhere warmer. Halcyon joint managing director Dr Bevan Geissmann said we are seeing a larger proportion of our new home owners arriving from interstate. “Sales rates in other sectors of the property market have declined in some instances, but strong interstate migration, the growing ageing cohort, and our award-winning lifestyle is keeping our sales strong,” Bevan said. Retirees from NSW and Victoria are driving the sales trend as they head north for Queensland’s warmer weather, our laidback lifestyle and greater affordability. Most recent ABS data shows 24,700 people moved to the Sunshine State from interstate in the year to June 2018, the highest number in the nation and up more than 40 per cent on the previous year. Indeed, our interstate buyers have collectively travelled more than 20,000 kms in the past six months to live in one of our communities. Bevan said local and interstate buyers nearing retirement are determined to fulfil their lifestyle ambitions while living in comfort and security. “A Halcyon lifestyle community is exactly what they need to right-size,” he said.
Retirees from NSW and Victoria are driving the sales trend as they head north for Queensland’s warmer weather, our laidback lifestyle and greater affordability. “They are selling their homes, buying a new or established home at Halcyon and putting the money left over in the bank and just enjoying life.” Victorian couple Chris Green and Heather Elsby bought at Halcyon Greens after several years at a lifestyle community in Melbourne’s western suburbs. “I love the cultural aspect of Melbourne, but we don’t spend as much time out and about as we used to, so when Heather asked if I wanted to move to the Gold Coast I thought, ‘why not’,” Chris said. The couple sees the move to Queensland as a great lifestyle opportunity and the chance to be much closer to family. “Heather has a sister living at Halcyon Greens and we really loved the look of the place when we visited a few months ago,” Chris said. “Halcyon Greens is right on the golf course, which also has a beautiful restaurant, so that will be fantastic for when we don’t feel like cooking. “We are quite social, so we’re looking forward to meeting a circle of people that we get along with when we move up later in the year.” ■ You can read more about some of our new interstate home owners - Peter and Trish Addington and Lynn and Geoff Ellis - on pages 16-17.
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Southerners heading
north for their Halcyon Days MAD KEEN GOLFERS Peter and Trish Addington are part of an upsurge of interstate Baby Boomers heading north to live at Halcyon. As southern property markets cool, Queensland’s warmer climate, carefree lifestyle and better value for money are luring more NSW and Victorian buyers to our lifestyle communities. In fact, interstate migration now accounts for 20 per cent of our buyers – the highest proportion ever. Halcyon’s experience reflects the wider trend with the Sunshine State’s net interstate migration more than tripling since 2014, according to Queensland Government data. Long-time Sydneysiders Peter and Trish said their upcoming move to Halcyon Greens at Pimpama was driven by the compelling financial benefits – and a better lifestyle. “What we’re selling for down here and buying for up there gives us a nice little buffer in the bank account,” Peter said.
Sydneysiders Trish and Peter Addington
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It’s cheaper to buy up in Queensland than it is down here, so Queensland was the way to go.
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In & around
“It puts our minds at rest that we can do the holidays that we might want to do down the track. “Certainly, the weather will benefit us, I hate the winter down here.” Trish said discovering Halcyon Greens during a Gold Coast holiday had made them realise it was possible to downsize in style from their suburban family home of 40 years. “We could have downsized here in Sydney but out to what I call ‘the bush’ to get anything decent and I didn’t want to do that,” Trish said. “The money from the sale of our house would have gone into whatever we moved into and there was no financial benefit in doing that. “It’s cheaper to buy up in Queensland than it is down here, so Queensland was the way to go.” Halcyon Greens’ location next to the Gainsborough Greens Golf Course and near their Upper Coomera-based daughter sealed the Halcyon deal for Trish and Peter. “We’re mainly interested in golf and we play two to three times a week,” Trish said. “At Halcyon we can just walk onto the course if we want to; it’s ideal and it’s all there for us.” Victorian caravanners Lynn and Geoff Ellis said Queensland’s warmer climate was behind their decision to move to Halcyon Lakeside on the Sunshine Coast. The couple have lived in Wallan, just north of Melbourne, for almost 20 years but spend most winters
travelling north with their caravan. “We quite often finish up in the Maroochydore area and we really like the area,” Geoff said. “Last winter we had a look at some of the lifestyle villages on the Sunshine Coast and we were absolutely blown away with what Halcyon offers. “We were gobsmacked by the facilities and we thought if we don’t move and get involved in those activities now, then time will pass us by.
My little bit of research has shown that Victoria seems to be lagging behind Queensland in this sector.
“At Halcyon Lakeside we’ll probably travel a bit less because when you leave from Melbourne you’ve got a two-week trip just to get to Brisbane. “We hope to be more heavily involved in the community activities, which are such a feature at Halcyon.” Lynn said Halcyon’s straightforward financial model was also very appealing to them. “My little bit of research has shown that Victoria seems to be lagging behind Queensland in this sector,” she said. “Some of the fee structures are more restricting in Victoria than they are in Queensland, as in you can’t keep the capital gains and you’re restricted on how you sell. “So, the way that Halcyon runs their communities was a big incentive for us as well.” Lynn and Geoff are excited to be moving into Halcyon Lakeside’s first RV home, which has a super-sized garage for their caravan, in August. ■
Victorians Lynn and Geoff Ellis making the move
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Health & fitness
Home owners on the road to marathon season
CAROLYN ROSE AND ASH O’NEIL are among the hundreds of Halcyon home owners preparing to walk or run with Team Halcyon at the upcoming Gold Coast Marathon (6-7 July) and Sunshine Coast Marathon (2-4 August). We spoke to them about their motivations, goals and the benefits of taking part.
Carolyn Rose Halcyon Greens 10km walk in the Gold Coast Marathon Why did you decide to enter? When we moved to Halcyon Greens in June, last year, it was the day before the marathon. As we were shifting all the cartons in, I thought ‘well I can’t do it this year but I’m going into training for next year and I’m going to complete the 10km’. What’s your training program? After moving in, I took up the gym and aqua classes. I also encouraged my neighbour across the road to take up walking with me. We started walking 40 minutes a day and we built that up to an 8.25km (80 minute) walk three or four times a week on top of the various fitness classes. I like having a buddy to motivate me on those mornings when it’s hard to get out of bed early. Now that it’s cooling down, we’re going to push our walks to 9km and then get a couple of 10km walks in as the event gets closer. I don’t have a time in mind for the 10km as I’ve never done the event before. What motivates you? I’ve been in to health and fitness since I broke my tailbone aged 32 and needed to do strengthening exercises. My Dad died of heart disease at 61 and my Mum lived longer but didn’t have a good quality of life. I’ve also worked in hospitals for 30 years including in a rehabilitation ward, and that’s a place to inspire you to keep up your health and fitness. Now that I’m 68, I want to maintain my fitness level, because I don’t want to just exist, I want to have a good life. Living at Halcyon Greens, myself and other home owners have all that we need at our fingertips, to inspire and encourage us to lead a healthy lifestyle.
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Carolyn Rose
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Ash O’Neil The surrounding parklands and walking trails and the fitness classes and programs at Greens will help ensure that. The great advantage of lifestyle communities is that many people are of the same ilk and the support and encouragement we all get from our fellow residents is quite inspiring! What do you hope to get out of training? I always seem to have an extra 3-5kg that I need to lose. I really love food and don’t mind a glass of wine. I’m within my BMI range but would like to lose a bit more weight. That’s been a bit harder since I returned to work recently after a seven-month break. I also want to maintain my bone density, upright posture and flexibility.
Ash O’Neil Halcyon Parks 5km walk in the Sunshine Coast Marathon Why are you entering? It’s my third time doing the 5km event. I’m doing it for the fun, the friendship and for the fundraising that Halcyon does for Ronald McDonald House. Because it’s a charity that we’re contributing to I feel like I’m helping others by putting in my little bit of effort. How are you preparing for the event? My daily walk has been a big part of my routine for 40 years and I try to average about 5km each day. I leave at 5.30am before the heat of the day and I do
the full loop of Halcyon Parks’ parkland and then all the streets in the community. I see lots of other home owners out on the streets getting active and that’s brilliant to see. What keeps you on track? I’m a person who needs to keep moving. I can’t sit still. I believe if you sit around and become a couch potato, you’ll suffer later in life. What are the benefits? Health is the major one for me. I have an artificial valve in my aorta and every 12 months I go to the cardiologist for a stress test. I’ve passed the test every time and I’m aiming to keep it that way by staying active. I find walking enjoyable, otherwise I wouldn’t do it. I feel better for it and I love being out in the fresh air. It helps you wake up properly and it gives you a clear head. If I don’t walk, I just don’t feel right. Have you set yourself a time for the event? I’d like to do it in 58 minutes, but I’m always happy with my time. I’m not out to beat people or anything like that. I certainly don’t run, it’s not good for my bones! ■ We’ll catch up with Carolyn and Ash in our Spring edition to find out how they went. 19
Winter 2019
Health & fitness
Keith and Sharon Bing
Meet the Bings
Australia’s first couple of pickleball PICKLEBALL DEVOTEE Keith Bing discovered the “addictive magic” of the sport within hours of jetting into sunny Florida in 2012. He and wife Sharon had returned to live in the United States after spending more than 25 years working and travelling abroad. Their first stop was visiting a college buddy of Keith’s at The Villages retirement community near Orlando, Florida. The friend insisted that Keith immediately join him for a game of pickleball – a blend of tennis, badminton and table tennis and the fastest growing sport in the US. 20
It was the last thing Keith felt like doing. “I was completely jet-lagged and all I wanted to do was have a conversation and go to bed,” he said. “But being a good guest, I went to the court and within 10 minutes I was totally hooked. “The shots and the angles, they all did something to me. It was the most fun action activity I’ve ever encountered. “Since then, it has been all about pickleball and I’ve played it virtually every day. If it wasn’t for that trip, we wouldn’t have discovered pickleball.”
Funnily enough, the same friend had tried to get Keith into tennis back when they were in college. “I played three games and that was my tennis career over,” Keith laughed. But pickleball was a revelation for Keith, whose long sporting life had involved playing and coaching basketball, softball and field hockey in the US and Europe. “Nothing has ever been as addictive as pickleball,” he said. “I believe pickleball creates a magical chemical brew in our brain; it’s something about the sound of the game, its pace of play and the face-to-face volleys at the non-volley lines.
Winter 2019
“I don’t know if it’s pickleball, but I’ve lost 50 pounds (22.6kg) since I started playing.” Keith’s enthusiasm for this new sport spilled over to Sharon, also a field hockey and softball player and coach. Together they dove deeper into the game; learning from, making videos and playing with, pickleball professionals in the US and Europe. Keith went on to win seven medals at international tournaments and to become an IPTPA Level 2 coaching and teaching professional, while Sharon has also played and won high-level competitions. In 2015, they moved back to Australia, where they have lived on and off after discovering Noosa during their travels in the 1990s. Since their return, Keith and Sharon have been passionate advocates for pickleball and continue to work hard to elevate the sport in Noosa and beyond. “We started at a bitumen playground in Noosaville with three willing and adventurous friends and we now have a full-time pickleball program going at the Noosa Leisure Centre,” Sharon recalled.
consult on everything pickleball; from court design and equipment through to etiquette and tournaments. Sharon said pickleball allows people of all ages to have fun while improving their fitness. “Pickleball is a sport that grandparents can introduce to the grandkids rather than the other way around,” she said. “It’s great to see the smiles on the grandparents’ faces when they’re playing their grandkids, and how happy everybody is. “You can almost count the years coming off their age.” She recalls an 81-year-old man asking her if he could learn to play. The answer was a resounding ‘yes’. “He’s still going strong; he’s entered a singles tournament and he’s just loving it, so any age can try,” she said. In their quest to grow the game, the Bings have linked with Halcyon
For seniors, I see no other sport or exercise that is so positive for your physical fitness, mental health and social life. to offer coaching clinics to home owners on purpose-built pickleball courts at Halcyon Greens, Halcyon Glades and Halcyon Lakeside. “For seniors, I see no other sport or exercise that is so positive for your physical fitness, mental health and social life,” Keith said. “Those three things lock in to create something addictive.” ■ More information is available on the Bings’ website: www.noosapickleballacademy.com
The Bings have also created a business dedicated to giving people an introduction to pickleball, helping players, PE teachers and other sports coaches gain a solid understanding of the sport, as well as helping the game with a funny name grow and thrive in Australia. Keith and Sharon run clinics for players and instructors, and they
Halcyon Glades home owners enjoy regular evening pickleball sessions 21
Winter 2019
A helping hand
(L-R) Max Dahler, Carol Dahler, Kay Wilkinson, Gail Douglas and Alex Douglas
Home owners raise $50,000 for DV Connect THE HALCYON FAMILY has dug deep to raise a whopping $50,000 for Queensland’s peak domestic violence support organisation, DV Connect.
Home owners, staff, and suppliers have organised and attended events ranging from a trivia night through to a gala ball for this very worthy cause. The funds raised will be used to furnish DV Connect’s new bridging accommodation complex, currently being purpose-built by Halcyon and Mirvac on the northern Gold Coast. Due to open in June, the facility is the first of its kind in Queensland and will help affected women and their children start a fresh chapter in their lives. The largest of Halcyon’s fundraising efforts came about after the community managers – Halcyon Glades, Parks, Landing and Lakeside – banded together and organised a gala ball.
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Swimming Champ Duncan Armstrong, OAM
300 home owners, staff, family, friends and members of the public donned formal attire and attended the Halcyon DV Connect Charity Ball at Kawana on the Sunshine Coast in early May. The event raised $30,000 with the help of generous sponsors and funding from the Sunshine Coast Council. Guests were greeted with canapes and bubbles before sitting down to a delicious two-course meal that was followed by entertainment, dancing and various charity auctions. Sunny Coast sports icon Duncan Armstrong was MC and guests heard the inspiring story of domestic violence survivor and volunteer educator Kim Groenewald who started a new life with the help of DV Connect.
Winter 2019
On the Gold Coast, a trio of events at Halcyon Waters really put the fun in fundraising and, along with the proceeds of raffles, saw more funds tipped into the donation bucket. Organised by home owner Lynda Peacock, the events included a trivia night attended by 80 people, an Easter dance party in the Leisure Club featuring musical duo Blonde Chocolate, and a picnic in the park with entertainment from the vocal group the Tenori – featuring three of The Ten Tenors.
“I think we’re very fortunate at this stage of life to be living in a community like Halcyon Waters,” Lynda said. “So, it’s a great thing to be able to help a worthy cause while doing fun things with friends.” At Halcyon Greens, the skill, imagination and hard work of the community’s new craft group raised more than $1,100. The ladies created dozens of snazzy items, ranging from soft toys to decoupage cactus pots,
and sold them at a stall during the community’s well attended open day in March. Group member Chris Carter said the outcome was fantastic and a win-win for all involved. “They are a great bunch of ladies who are keen to have some social interaction, share some skills and give back to the community,” Chris said. “There’s a sense that we’ve got enough of our own stuff here so what can we do to help others who are less fortunate. “We have some great ideas and we’re going to continue on with that community vibe.” The group is also making small quilts and knitted teddies for the children who will be living at the DV Connect facility. Nearby at Vision by Halcyon, home owners and staff staged a divine high tea and fashion parade event, which raised more than $2,400 from ticket and raffle sales.
The afternoon soiree overlooking Vision’s waterfront drew 90 ladies who sipped on bubbles and dined on delicious savouries and sweet treats prepared by home owners. Attendees were treated to a parade of the latest autumn fashions from Change Alley that were beautifully modelled by home owners Gail Hawkins, Lynn Young, Sue Parkes and Annette Langdon. They also heard from several guest speakers on beauty, health and wellness topics. Two of the organisers, Anne Bousie and Rhondda Reiser, said they were delighted at the enthusiasm of those who helped make the event possible and those who attended. “We were pleasantly surprised at the support shown and we are very happy with the outcome for this very worthwhile cause,” Rhondda said. ■
There’s a sense that we’ve got enough of our own stuff here so what can we do to help others who are less fortunate.
The Halcyon Greens craft group raised more than $1,100 from sales 23
Winter 2019
Home owners saving millions with solar success GOING SOLAR is the way of life at Halcyon with more than 15,000 solar panels now powering homes across our communities. Coinciding with Halcyon’s 15th anniversary, the milestone reflects Halcyon’s unwavering commitment to creating sustainable and more affordable lifestyles for our home owners. It means our home owners with solar panels will collectively save $25 million on their power bills in the next decade while leaving a lighter footprint for future generations. Home owners Dennis and Doreen Sheehan have watched their energy costs drop by half since moving to their three-bedroom, two-bathroom home at Halcyon Lakeside. “We’ve seen a significant reduction in power bills compared to our last home, which was similar in size,” Dennis said. “The most expensive bill we’ve had is $79 for a three-month period, and that was over Christmas when we had our family and 10 extra people in the house,” he said. 24
“Everything about the house is designed to save us money, from the quality insulation to the solar panels and solar hot water.” Roughly the size of four rugby league fields, 15,000 solar panels are the environmental equivalent of removing 26,000 cars from the road for 30 years. At Halcyon Greens, more than half the home owners have taken solar to the next level by installing a Tesla Home Battery, which stores their solar-generated electricity for later use. They will save a total of $750,000 on their energy bills over the next decade. Halcyon joint managing director Dr Bevan Geissmann said the company aimed to double the current number of solar panels in Halcyon communities in the next five years. “We offer solar panels as standard inclusions in our new homes, and with several new communities planned in South East Queensland, we’re expecting to have more than 30,000 solar panels on roofs by 2024,” Bevan said.
“This is part and parcel of our commitment to doing what we do sustainably while giving our home owners the opportunity to save money and live comfortably and conscientiously. “Home owners can also take comfort in the knowledge that they are doing something to leave a better environmental legacy for their grandchildren and future generations.” ■
Our home owners with solar panels will collectively save $25 million on their power bills in the next decade while leaving a lighter footprint for future generations.
Winter 2019
Halcyon serves up
a big thank you HOME OWNERS Paul and Julie Coles are shining examples of what word of mouth recommendation can achieve at Halcyon. The long-time Brisbane residents moved to Halcyon Parks in Caloundra last year, shortly after visiting home owners Dave and Marg Hooper and checking out the community, Halcyon’s first on the Sunshine Coast. Paul said being able to talk to Dave and Marg and other home owners about life at Halcyon Parks was key to their decision making. “You can speak to the person who represents the company, but the complete story is after you’ve spoken to actual home owners who can say what it’s actually like living in a place like this,” he said. “It was very important to us to have a bit of a walk around and if we came across home owners we’d stop and chat to them. “It made us feel a lot more comfortable with the whole concept because we’d never lived in anything other than a suburban house before.” A year later, Julie and Paul are loving their active lifestyle at Halcyon Parks and the feeling of being connected with others in the community. Their successful move has inspired three of their friends to follow them to Halcyon. “We have nine children between us, so we have a large family and a lot of friends who are interested in where we shifted to,” Paul said. “They’ve all come to visit, and we’ve proudly shown them around. As a result of that, our first referral was our friend Maggie Scott, who lived alone up at Maleny.” “She visited us and could see the advantages of where we were living, and she moved to Halcyon Parks in March.” Next up were friends from Brisbane, Sandie and Bob Daniells, who dropped in to see them at Halcyon Parks and liked what they saw.
Paul and Julie Coles “They ended up buying at Halcyon Greens at Pimpama because it’s close to good friends of theirs on Tamborine Mountain,” Paul said. Then Jenny and Kevin Bourke, the Kingscliff-based in-laws of Paul’s youngest daughter, called in and fell in love with the Halcyon concept. “They are boating and sailing people and they wanted somewhere with boating facilities, so they’ve ended up buying at Vision by Halcyon,” Paul said. “Without even really trying, we’ve had these three families end up buying into Halcyon communities.” Thanks to home owners like Julie and Paul, more than 35 per cent of Halcyon’s sales are made as a result of referral. In recognition of these favourable introductions, and to mark Halcyon’s 15th anniversary this year, we are staging a series of ‘thank you’ lunches for home owners whose recommendation has resulted in a sale. Halcyon joint managing director Dr Bevan Geissmann said the lunches were Halcyon’s way of showing its gratitude to those who have shared their home owner delight with family and friends. “We truly appreciate their confidence in us and their role in bringing new people into Halcyon’s communities,” he said. “It’s been integral to Halcyon’s success during our first 15 years.” ■ 25
Winter 2019
Where the wild things are... Gainsborough Greens
Matt Keys HALCYON GREENS at Pimpama sits on the edge of the Gold Coast’s largest manmade wildlife sanctuary. The 300-hectare sanctuary hugs the northern boundary of Mirvac’s Gainsborough Greens masterplanned community and provides a green haven for native flora and fauna. For 15 years, conservationist Matt Keys has worked with Mirvac to oversee the transformation of the massive swamp, forest and farmland parcel into a purpose-built ‘lifeboat’ for the area’s native animals. Today, the fenced sanctuary comprises several large manmade freshwater lagoons, planted native forests, a thoughtfully redesigned 18-hole golf course as well as 50ha of preserved old-growth forests containing trees up to 700 years old. Its rich ecological diversity has attracted and become home to koalas, kangaroos, eagles, owls, gliders, ospreys, black swans and countless other species of native fauna and flora. Matt, who heads Habitat Environment Management, said Halcyon Greens is geographically at the heart of the sanctuary, giving home owners a front row seat to nature’s magnificence and resilience.
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“For Halcyon Greens home owners, it is quite literally a case of living at the centre of a purpose-designed wildlife sanctuary,” he said. “The lakes around Halcyon are all manmade, they didn’t exist five years ago. “They were built not only for stormwater treatment but to provide flood immunity for the golf course and to create a wildlife sanctuary. “To see them today and to know what they looked like a few years ago is extraordinary. The diversity of birds in there now is staggering.” Matt said Gainsborough’s wilderness was designed to counter some of the impacts of the northern corridor’s development boom. “We’ve created huge amounts of new habitat that’s purpose-built for wildlife,” he said. “With tree clearing moving progressively north and driving fauna towards us, we thought Gainsborough could act as a ‘lifeboat’. “That was the whole modus operandi: let’s build a magnificent ‘buffet’ for fauna and protect them by fencing it.”
Winter 2019 Cover story
Matt said the sanctuary, which makes up 65 per cent of Gainsborough Greens’ footprint, is a credit to Mirvac’s environmental commitment and is testament to the saying: “build it and they will come”. “We have built that wildlife ‘buffet’ for critters, knowing that if we put the lakes and native flora in there, the animals would come, and sure enough that’s what happened,” he said. “The combination of protecting old growth forests and planting tens of thousands of food trees seems to be having the desired effect with the ‘teddy bears’ (koalas) and lots of other native wildlife too. “It’s kind of like putting a bowl of lollies on the table and watching the kids flock to it. “There’s very little maintenance required now because the native ecosystem is now managing itself; it’s the gift that keeps giving.”
The sanctuary has one-way fauna fences and gates, allowing animals to enter but not leave, ensuring they remain protected from threats like humans, vehicles and domestic pets. Among the sanctuary’s thousands of native plantings are up to 100,000 eucalypts or koala food trees.
For Halcyon Greens home owners, it is quite literally a case of living at the centre of a purpose-designed wildlife sanctuary.
Gainsborough Greens 18 hole Championship Golf Course
Manmade fresh water lagoons
Halcyon Greens GAINSBOROUGH GREENS - PIMPAMA
Native eucalyptus/ koala food trees
Continued on page 29
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Halcyon Greens GAINSBOROUGH GREENS - PIMPAMA
DI SCOV E R AU STR A L I A’ S FASTE ST S E L L ING L IF E STYL E COM M UNIT Y
Set on a 34-hectare island surrounded by an 18-hole golf course, nature reserve and walking trails. Home owners enjoy exclusive access to the Gainsborough Greens Golf Club and the communities 5-star facilities. Discover country club living at Halcyon Greens and change the way you live. Display homes open 9am - 4pm, Monday to Saturday, 7 Halcyon Drive, Pimpama Phone 1800 626 488 or simply google ‘Life begins at Halcyon’
Life beginsatHalcyon.com.au
Winter 2019
They have grown so well that Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary workers visit each month to collect gum leaf for their resident koalas. Matt said several independent experts have assessed the Pimpama sanctuary for its ability to become a receiving site for relocated koalas.
We’ve created huge amounts of new habitat that’s purpose-built for wildlife.
“The consensus is that we are about 10 years away from being able to take animals in reasonable numbers,” he said. “We just need to allow time for those eucalypts to become 40-foot high.” A long-time environmental ally, Matt started his career working for the Australian Conservation Foundation before joining the Surfrider Foundation Australia as its national campaign manager. He founded Habitat as a way of working with the mainstream to achieve better outcomes for nature. Matt said the residents of Gainsborough Greens were doing their bit for nature by choosing to live there. “The biggest contribution they can possibly make is buying the product that developers are creating in these types of places,” he said. “That alone is massive because if the industry is seeing that the smart developers who genuinely care about the environment and do meaningful work on the ground are achieving successful sales for their homes, then others will copy it. “The residents here have already done the environment a huge favour.” ■
FA ST FACTS : Known as: Nyamul Wildlife Sanctuary – Nyamul is a Yugambeh word for ‘young animal’. Developer: Mirvac who engaged Matt Keys of Habitat Environment Management to oversee the creation of the sanctuary Size: 300 hectares approximately – comprising 50 hectares of old-growth forest and 250 hectares of new aquatic and terrestrial wildlife sanctuary, and the Gainsborough Greens Golf Course. Represents 65 per cent of the Gainsborough Greens community. Features: Manmade freshwater lakes, planted native forests, old-growth forests with trees thought to be 600 to 700 years old, one-way fauna fences and gates. Home to: Kangaroos, koalas, owls, ospreys, eagles, black swans, snakes, gliders and many other native fauna and flora species. Public access/viewing: The sanctuary is fenced but residents can view it from walkways along its boundary. 29
Winter 2019
Out & about
Newlyweds Trevor and Lynne
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Winter 2019
Lynne and Trevor take the plunge A WHIRLWIND ROMANCE that started over an online word game has blossomed into marriage with a beautiful wedding at Halcyon Lakeside’s Recreational Club. Surrounded by family, friends and fellow home owners, Lynne Shields, 60, and Trevor Renn, 63, signed, sealed and celebrated their partnership on Saturday 2 March. It was the third wedding held in a Halcyon community, and Lynne said they had plenty of neighbourly support in pulling their big day together. “You forget how much organisation a wedding takes,” she laughed. “A lot of our friends here helped us out with the wedding, so many putting up the decorations, setting up the reception, another did a wonderful job putting the wedding bouquets together and we had a friend just a few doors down do the photography for us,” Lynne said. “Others volunteered to help on the bar and serve drinks, and at least nine helped the caterer in the kitchen. They all did an amazing job.” Another friend and former dance coach gave Trevor and Lynne some waltzing lessons in the lead-up to the wedding while the community’s choir, the Lakeside Singers, made a surprise appearance during the ceremony. “I organised the choir to sing ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’ as a surprise for Trevor because he had just turned 63 on the Thursday before,” Lynne said. “They just appeared and sang in full voice, which was lovely.”
Lynne was thrilled her dad Alan Jorgensen, 87, was able to walk her down the aisle and that her two-year-old granddaughter Ava was the flower girl. The weather gods also played a part by bestowing an auspicious omen on the ceremony. “There was a little bit of a shower and just as we held hands, a double rainbow appeared, so we were very lucky,” Lynne said. Double rainbows are believed to be a symbol of good fortune and transformation in life. Trevor and Lynne certainly consider themselves lucky with their wedding coming 12 months after they first connected while playing online. “We started chatting and over a few weeks we got to know one other pretty well on long phone calls – we learnt a lot about each other, and got on so well, and we just clicked. So we thought we better meet” Lynne said. Within weeks, Trevor had flown to the Sunshine Coast from Sydney to meet up with Lynne. “Although we had seen photographs of each other, my first impression of her in person was ‘wow’,” he said. From there the new couple planned several holidays, including a seven-week jaunt through England and Ireland, and a week in the Maldives. They also decided to live together, with Trevor leaving Sydney to move into Halcyon Lakeside with Lynne. The rest, as they say, is history, and Lakeside’s newlyweds are still playing the game that brought them together. “We’re still very competitive but Trevor’s probably got the edge because he plays a bit more than me,” Lynne laughed. “He even helps me out with words when I’m playing him.” ■ 31
Winter 2019
Out & about
Vision’s blokes have a big appetite for their breakfast club HALCYON HAS PLENTY of ‘ladies who lunch’, so it’s good to know there are also ‘blokes who breakfast’ at Vision by Halcyon. Once a month, many of the community’s male home owners head off to a Runaway Bay cafe where they sit down to a hearty breakfast and a big helping of camaraderie for an hour or so. Home owner Marcel van Hooft said the men’s breakfast group was started in 2016 by five of the community’s ‘early settlers’ who yearned for a big brekkie of lamb’s fry and bacon. “These were the men with strong stomachs,” Marcel joked. “They hunted around for a place that did a good deal and they ended up at Klein’s Coffee, Bar and Grill.” Word of the boys-only breakfast spread, and today the group has close to 40 members with an average of about 25 men turning up to the breakfast on the last Tuesday of each month. While lamb’s fry and bacon is still on the menu, group members can also choose to have the less exotic choice of bacon and eggs. 32
“The breakfast is usually eaten in the first half hour and then we have a chin wag – just good old camaraderie and talking,” Marcel said. “There’s an unwritten rule that we try to keep the conversation out of contentious areas so we don’t talk much about politics, religion or girlfriends and wives. “We talk about boats, sport, trips we’ve taken and sometimes our health. “Because we’re on a long table there’s a mish-mash of five or six conversations that are going on at the same time. “It’s a good-hearted and friendly get-together.” Marcel, who coordinates the group, said the monthly gathering had strengthened friendships and the sense of community at Vision. “The indications that people find it useful and meaningful is the fact that halfway through the month they come to me and ask when the next breakfast is on,” he said. “So, it’s not as though I have to remind them.” ■ The men’s breakfast group meet the last Tuesday of each month.
Vision Men’s Breakfast Group
Winter 2019
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Winter 2019
That’s freedom
Top tips for selling the family home by REIQ’s Felicity Moore SELLING THE FAMILY HOME is a big step, and for many people the decision to sell is understandably difficult. After all, our home is a sanctuary, it’s where we raised our family, and it’s where we can truly be ourselves. We form deep emotional connections with our homes and deciding to leave all that behind for somewhere new can be challenging. But as our circumstances change, our homes are no longer fit for purpose and it’s clear that it’s time to move. For many, this decision is closely followed by the next difficult decision – when should I sell to ensure maximum sale price?
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The reality is that the best time to sell is when you need to sell. This is also true of buying. While it’s true that housing markets are very broadly cyclical, it’s also true that things happen to knock us out of the cycle, such as the GFC or resources downturn. It’s impossible to pick the bottom – or the top – of the market until it’s in the rear-view mirror. So, waiting for the perfect time to enter the market is not advisable.
These headlines are focused on Sydney and Melbourne and don’t consider the growth and economic strength that exists in Queensland. Together, the Sydney and Melbourne markets make up about 60 per cent of our national housing market and, understandably, they draw the focus of the national media.
So, how is the South East Queensland real estate market performing?
The engine driving Queensland’s property market is powered by the three strongest performing markets of the south-east corner – the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
It would be easy to think that the property doom and gloom forecast in the national media means the housing market in Queensland is on a downward spiral.
These markets have delivered consistently strong house price growth over the past few years and are the envy of the southern markets.
Winter 2019
The Gold Coast was driven by construction and jobs created around the Commonwealth Games. At the peak, we saw growth of almost 7 per cent. Now that the Games have packed up and left town the growth is still strong. In the 12 months to September 2018, the Gold Coast’s median house price grew 3.8 per cent to $629,000.
delivered growth of around 2 to 3 per cent over the past five years.
The Brisbane market grew 2.3 per cent over the same period to an annual median house price of $675,000. This market is a steady and sustainable performer and has
Selling your home is a big step. Make it as hassle-free as possible by bringing in the experts and trusting their advice. Good luck as you embark on your next chapter! ■
Turning to the Sunshine Coast, which is our strongest market, house owners have benefited from annual growth of 6.3 per cent. This level of growth is extraordinary and is part of a consistent upward trajectory for this market. Supply is tight and demand is high, which pushes the price up.
The engine driving Queensland’s property market is powered by the three strongest performing markets of the South East corner – the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Felicity Moore’s tips for maximising your sale price: 1. Bring in the professionals: If you want the best results then it’s time to call in the professionals to help you sell your property. An experienced agent will be able to help you make decisions and choose the path that’s best for you and your circumstances. 2. Presentation is key: You only get one chance to make a first impression and that moment is the moment your potential buyer pulls up at the kerb (even before they step out of the car). Make sure the gardens are well maintained and tidy, the lawns mowed, and the house freshly painted, if the budget allows. 3. Stand out online: Most people choose to list their property on a listing portal, such as Realestate.com.au. If this is you, then the best advice is to hire a professional property stylist, a professional photographer and a professional writer to write the property description. And make sure you include a floorplan. 4. Consider auction: Many property experts agree that the only way to truly maximise your sale price is to consider sale by auction. By bringing together competing buyers you have the best opportunity to increase the final sale price.
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Winter 2019
Social seen
# My Halcyon
DAYS Brench Wright Del and Graham Flack
Visitors
(L-R) Nev and Trish An derson, Mick Grbin and Rawy n Exteer
Guests
Tony Kellerman, Glenn Mills and Tommy St John
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Bev and Phil Wain
Craven Lorraine Marsh, Ruth and Charlie
Winter 2019
Lyn Toonen, Wim Sa arberg and Auriel Wraith
Halcyon Open Day Saturday 9 March 2019 Our biggest Open Day ever. Home owners at Halcyon Greens, Halcyon Lakeside and Halcyon Glades welcomed guests to step inside their communities to see why they call Halcyon home.
Desley Oertel
Robyn Provians and Margaret Carroll
Maurice and Vandra
Di and Ted Londrigan
Aart De Boer and Herman Koop
Lindsay Bowen
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Winter 2019
Social seen
# My Halcyon
DAYS
Pam and John Beard
more
Vicki Smith
epherd
Yvonne and Barry Sh 38
Eco Encounter Event Wednesday 17 April 2019 Halcyon Greens home owners and grandkids enjoyed an up close and personal experience at the Eco Encounter event during the school holidays.
Winter 2019
Referral Luncheon Thursday 11 April 2019 As part of Halcyon’s 15th Anniversary Celebrations home owners and guests joined us at the Royal Queensland Golf Club to celebrate referring a friend to Halcyon.
Jennifer Anderson and Gwen Hall Del Tandy and Helen Wolrige
c and Audrey Coffey
Eri
(L-R) Steve and Mazza ter Gilmour, John Lankes n and Helga Groe
Sandy Chadwick and Murray Diletti
Eddie and Marg Davis
Barry and Julie Clarke
Chris and Rex Bell
(L-R) Debbie and Doug Flannery, Leah and Ian Morrison 39
Winter 2019
Social seen
# My Halcyon
DAYS
Ladies Charity High Tea Saturday 30 March 2019 Vision by Halcyon home owners hosted a charity high tea and fashion show to raise money for DV Connect.
Laila Hakansson Ware and Nell Street
Lyn Young eena Callaghan, (L-R) Michelle Hall, Sh ey, Mason, Jeanette Chen Kristina Anderson, Jo na Webberburn Anni Diamond and Fio
Reiser, il Hawkins, Rhondda (L-R) Trish Gearie, Ga lly Borg Ke tt, ne Hig a Lis Cramp, Anne Bousie, Jenny and Renee Ferguson 40
Rus Brock, Joy Madd
ock and Jan Wregg
Winter 2019
Halcyon DV Connect Charity Ball Wednesday 1 May 2019 Over 300 home owners, staff, suppliers and stakeholders attended the Halcyon DV Connect Charity Ball to raise vital funds for the DV Connect Bridging Accommodation facility.
Michelle Wicks, Marie
wald
Cone and Kim Groene
(L-R) Arthur and Rhonda Fletche r, Bernard Buttery, Renee Ferguson, Marion Buttery, Anne Bouise and Rhondda Reis er.
Karen Lynn, Peter Corish and Jill Corish
Duncan Armstrong OAM
Linda Studley and raffle winner
Sandy Junge and Carol Dahler
Rob and Janine Caldwell
Kim Groenewald
(L-R) Linda Studley, Tracey Yeo, Kate Clark, Karen Carey and Donna Osborne
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Winter 2019
Halcyon communities
Australia’s best lifestyle communities Please phone 1800 626 488 for more information on our communities.
Halcyon Glades C A BOOLT UR E
Situated at Caboolture north is Halcyon Glades; a tree change located halfway between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Halcyon Glades offers the best of both worlds and includes all the hallmarks of an award-winning Halcyon community. 34 Ardrossan Road, Caboolture - Display homes open 9am - 4pm, Monday to Saturday
Halcyon Greens GAINSBOROUGH GREENS - PIMPAMA
Enjoy country club living at Halcyon Greens, Australia’s first golf and lifestyle community designed for over 50s. The new 84-acre community is surrounded by an 18-hole golf course, and overlooks natural wetlands and nature reserve.
Halcyon once again turned to the Gold Coast’s prestigious North Shore for its first waterfront lifestyle community, Vision by Halcyon. Located on an island at Hope Island, the exclusive gated community won the UDIA QLD’s Seniors Living award.
7 Halcyon Drive, Pimpama - Display homes open 9am - 4pm, Monday to Saturday
11 Grant Avenue, Hope Island - Homes available, inspection by appointment
Halcyon Lakeside BLI BLI
Located just five minutes from the centre of Bli Bli and situated within the masterplanned Parklakes 2 community, Halcyon Lakeside features 5-star resort facilities, over 6km of connected walking tracks and 450m of lake frontage set against a natural backdrop of undulating hills. Halcyon Lakeside was judged Australia’s best in 2019 by UDIA. 1 Halcyon Way, Bli Bli - Display homes open 9am - 4pm, 42 Monday to Saturday
Located in the centre of the Sunshine Coast at Bli Bli, Halcyon Landing is a shining example of award-winning masterplanning. In tune with nature, the 25-acre lifestyle community is bordered by a 2km signature walking trail and natural parklands. 27 Waigani Street, Bli Bli - Homes available, inspection by appointment
UP & COMING
Winter 2019
Halcyon Waters
EVENTS
HOPE ISLAND
Judged Australia’s Best Seniors living, Halcyon Waters is recognised as one of Australia’s premier lifestyle communities. Designed exclusively for over 50s, the vibrant community is set amongst 100 acres of open space and natural waterfront parklands at Hope Island on the Gold Coast’s North Shore. 1 Halcyon Way, Hope Island - Homes available, inspection by appointment
Halcyon Parks CALOUNDRA
Tuesday 11 June Buderim Tavern
Q&A Session
Wednesday 12 June Links Hope Island Golf Club Q&A Session
Just five minutes drive from Caloundra’s beaches and town centre, Halcyon Parks nestles comfortably on a leafy 36-acre site surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. The masterplanned community incorporates quality architect-designed homes, gated security, comprehensive resort-style facilities and a strong community culture.
Thursday 13 June Halcyon Glades Recreation Club
Q&A Session
42 Meridan Way, Caloundra - Homes available, inspection by appointment
Tuesday 25 June Halcyon Lakeside
Insiders Tour
My Halcyon
DAYS
FREE
Wednesday 26 June Halcyon Greens
Winter 2019
Share your
Halcyon
DAYS
Insiders Tour
Cover sto ry Where the wild Gainsborough things are... Greens p26
Life beginsatH
alcyon.com.au
Want to share your Halcyon Days with us? Send your story to marketing@halcyondays.com.au
Health &
fitness
Home owners on the road to marath on season p18
Thursday 27 June Halcyon Glades
Insiders Tour
For a full list of events go to lifebeginsathalcyon.com.au/events or please phone 1800 626 488 for more information
WINNER 2018
Na onal Awards for Excellence
2019
WINNER 2018 HIA Queensland Specialised Housing
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Australia’s best... again
Halcyon has been judged Australia’s best lifestyle community yet again after Halcyon Lakeside won the 2019 UDIA National Award for Excellence. Being judged Australia’s best in our 15th year encourages us to keep evolving and innovating to create the best possible lifestyle for our home owners.
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To view our award winning communities simply google ‘Life begins at Halcyon’ or phone 1800 626 488 No Exit Fees I No Rentals I No Stamp Duty I No Hidden Fees I No Worries
Life beginsatHalcyon.com.au